It's Not You, It's the System: 5 Moms on Mom Guilt, Burnout & 'No Country for Mothers'

No Country for Mothers: Genevieve on Motherhood, Identity, and Why This Film Matters

In Part 2 of my No Country for Mothers series, I'm sitting down with Genevieve Havemeyer-King, one of the moms featured in the documentary produced by Moms First. Genevieve is a mom to a three-year-old daughter, and she opens up about becoming a mother. We talk about the identity shift that comes with motherhood, that moment you realize your home can be perfectly prepared, but the world outside, is not. Genevieve getsreal about what it meant to see herself, and her story, reflected on screen for the first time at the film's premiere. This conversation is for every mom who's ever felt like the world wasn't built for her and her kids, but it's also for partners, employers, and anyone who loves a mother. Genevieve makes the case, for why care work deserves to be seen as the foundation it truly is, and she leaves us with something intentional: an invitation for us to host our own watch party. Just for your family. Just for your mom. That's how the conversation keeps going. In this episode, we cover: ●   Becoming a mom as the world was still navigating COVID ●     Why Genevieve said yes to being part of the No Country for Mothers documentary ●     Why this film is for moms, partners, employers and everybody   If this episode moves you, share it with the moms in your life and consider hosting your own No Country for Mothers watch party. Sometimes that's how we start the conversations that matter most. Genevieve is a mother, artist, and cultural heritage worker featured in the documentary No Country for Mothers, produced by Moms First. Her story in the film explores the everyday realities of being a working mom navigating a new job, a new city, and the search for support in a world that isn't always built for mothers. Learn more about hosting a screening for No Country for Mothers or find a screening near you here [https://momsfirst.us/doc/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22461278824&gbraid=0AAAAA_Wf9-YQCowpglKK1WYgphJgsSwAF&gclid=CjwKCAjw1IHTBhAaEiwA4AYNFhGrKkHY4b_sC_ECRETrNXHZjO_8MsKsfpUSwtGoKiXSu_LS2woWMhoCpdQQAvD_BwE]

It's Not You, It's the System: 5 Moms on Mom Guilt, Burnout & 'No Country for Mothers'

You're not failing, the system was never built for you. In this episode, five moms sit down with me to talk mom burnout, comparison culture, and what it actually took to feel less alone. I recently attended the premiere of No Country for Mothers, a new documentary from Moms First, and I brought five moms who'd become associate producers on the film into this conversation. We talk about mom guilt, invisible labor, and why so many of us think we're just "not doing motherhood right" when really, we were never given the infrastructure to succeed in the first place. Inside this episode: What drew each mom to the documentary and the moment it became personal "The pregnant princess and the postpartum pauper" why we're supported until the baby comes, then forgotten Being laid off eight months pregnant, and the "no winning" trap of stay-at-home vs. working mom Why resilience shouldn't be an excuse for a country with no support system for mothers How five strangers became a real friendship in one night This one's for every mom who's ever thought I'm fine, I've got this, while quietly falling apart on the inside... You are not alone in this. With so much gratitude to the moms who made this conversation possible: Claire Hoon, Seleene D'Souza, Victoria Eisen, Fatouma Jatta, and Brittani Cotton. Thank you for trusting me with your stories. Find a screening of "No Country for Mothers" near you: here [https://momsfirst.us/doc/]

When Mom Guilt Keeps You Small: Hitting Submit Anyway

Spotify Show Notes / Description I applied for something I never thought I'd get into... and I got in. 🎬 A few weeks ago, Moms First sent out an email looking for 10 moms to attend the invite-only New York City premiere of No Country for Mothers a , documentary about American motherhood, the systems that were never built to support us, and the moms who are done being divided against each other. Temas de maternidad que llevamos cargando hace mucho. And for a second, I almost talked myself out of applying. The logistics. The kids. That little voice that says, this isn't for you. But I hit submit anyway. In this episode, I'm sharing why I almost didn't apply and what that moment has to do with everything you've almost talked yourself out of. Because when the system tells us to be selfless, no wonder we second-guess anything that feels like it's just for us. Por supuesto que nos convencemos de no hacerlo. We also get into what this film is actually about: the working mom vs. stay-at-home mom divide, the girl boss vs. traditional wife narrative, the way these labels were never real, they were designed to keep us fighting each other instead of asking why the system never supported any of us in the first place. No paid leave. Childcare that costs more than a mortgage. Back to work six weeks postpartum. Y después nos preguntamos por qué estamos agotadas. I'm also announcing something I'm really excited about: I'm hosting a community screening in Manchester, CT on June 24th. It's small, it's intimate, and there are only a few spots left. We're going to watch the film together and talk about what we do with everything that comes up. If you are in Connecticut, I would love to see you there. 🎟️ RSVP link in the show notes: https://www.mobilize.us/momsfirst/event/961791/?referring_vol=13182173&rname=Jocelyn&share_context=event_details&share_medium=copy_link [https://www.mobilize.us/momsfirst/event/961791/?referring_vol=13182173&rname=Jocelyn&share_context=event_details&share_medium=copy_link] Not local? Drop a comment, a virtual watch party might be happening too. The thing you almost talked yourself out of? Go for it! #MomLifeJuntas #NoCuntryForMothers #Maternidad #MamáLatina #MaternalWellness #CulpaMaterna #MomsFirst #PodcastParaMamás #LatinaMom #MotherhoodUnfiltered

What to Do When You're Doing It All and Your Partner Doesn't See It

In this episode, we're talking about the mental load, that invisible, to-do list that lives rent-free in your head and never, ever clocks out. We're going deep on why the mental load falls so unevenly in partnerships, why pointing it out so often leads to a fight instead of a fix, and what's actually going on when your partner says 'just tell me what you need' and somehow that makes everything worse. This is not a “we hate dads” episode. This is an honest conversation about a pattern that affects almost every couple after kids and what it actually takes to shift it. Topics covered in this episode: * What the mental load actually is and why it's so much more than just chores * Why your partner genuinely might not see what you see (and what that means) * The difference between helping and taking ownership and why it matters * Why 'just ask me' from your partner feels like more work, not less * The invisible labor of emotional management, appointment tracking, and anticipating everyone's needs * How to start the conversation without it turning into a fight * What equitable partnership actually looks like in real life, not perfection, progress Whether you're exhausted, resentful, or just quietly wondering if this is just how it's going to be now, this episode is for you. No estás sola. And no, you're not asking for too much. Are you a mom in CT? Work with me [https://care.headway.co/providers/jocelyn-flores]

Asking for Help Is Not Abandonment

In this episode, we’re talking about why accepting help feelsso hard, even when the support is right there in front of you, freely offered. If you’ve ever said “I should be able to handle this” or “I don’t want to be a burden” while quietly drowning, this one is for you. We break down the myth of the self-sufficient mother, howcontrol becomes a coping mechanism for postpartum anxiety, and why martyrdom can quietly become its own identity. We also talk about the real cost of refusing help: more burnout, more resentment, less presence and how to startpracticing receiving support without the guilt. Whether you're a new mom, in the thick of the postpartumseason or just trying to survive motherhood this episode is a reminder: handing your baby to someone else so you can breathe is not the same as abandoning them. You are allowed to need support. Punto. Follow the podcast on IG https://www.instagram.com/momlifejuntas/ [https://www.instagram.com/momlifejuntas/]