This morning looked like any other.

Same routine.
Same school run.
Same everything.

But this time… my childminder was back.

And something in me softened instantly.

The Week Without Childcare

The week before had been a lot.

Not dramatic.
Nothing went wrong.

It was just constant.

Every morning started earlier than I wanted.
Every task stacked onto the next.
Every moment filled with something that needed doing.

School runs.
Work.
Pickups.
Dinner.
Homework.
Organisation.

Then doing it all again the next day.

By midweek, I felt it.

Not loud exhaustion.
Not burnout.

Just that quiet, steady feeling of being stretched.

When the Mental Load Has Nowhere to Go

I’ve spoken about the mental load before…

But this week, there was nowhere for it to go.

No shared space.
No quiet handover.
No one holding part of the day with me.

And what surprised me wasn’t just the big responsibilities.

It was everything in between.

The things that don’t get written down, but still have to be done.

• Remembering reading records
• Checking homework is actually done properly
• Packing PE kits on the right days
• Making sure swimming things are clean, dry, and ready again
• Keeping track of school messages
• Thinking ahead to what’s needed tomorrow
• Cooking meals that are quick but still make sense
• Trying to stay organised in the middle of it all

None of these things are huge on their own.

But together?

They sit in your mind all day.

Quietly.
Constantly.

And when there’s no support, no pause, no break in that cycle…

You realise just how heavy that load really is.

The Day My Childminder Came Back

The morning she returned, everything looked the same.

But it didn’t feel the same.

There was space again.

Space to breathe.
Space to think.
Space to move without rushing every second.

And in that moment, I realised something clearly:

Support changes everything.

Why Childcare Support Matters for Mums

We talk a lot about being strong.

About coping.
Managing.
Holding everything together.

But this week reminded me of something else:

Support isn’t a luxury. It’s essential.

Childminders. Nannies. The people who step in quietly and hold parts of your life with you.

They’re not just “help.”

They are the difference between:

• surviving
  and
• sustaining your life

Especially when you’re a working mum or doing this on your own.

A New Level of Appreciation

Before that week, I appreciated my childminder.

But now?

It’s different.

Because I’ve felt the absence.

I’ve seen what life looks like when that support isn’t there.

And I don’t think I’ll ever overlook that again.

To anyone who supports families, holds routines together, or simply shows up consistently:

Thank you.

Not just for what you do…

But for what you make possible.

Because behind every “I’ve got this” mum,
there’s often someone helping her carry it.

For Those Doing This Without Support

And I’m also aware…

Not everyone has this.

Not everyone has a childminder returning next week.
Not everyone has someone to call when it gets too much.
Not everyone has a break built into their routine.

Some people are doing this every day.

Without backup.
Without a pause.
Without anyone stepping in to hold part of the load.

And that kind of strength…

isn’t always visible.

It doesn’t get recognised enough.
It doesn’t get spoken about enough.

But it deserves to be.

So if you’re reading this and you don’t have that support…

I see you.

Not in a passing way.
But in a real, grounded way.

Because doing this consistently, without relief,
takes more than strength.

It takes endurance.

What You Can Do This Week (Without Overhauling Your Life)

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t try to fix everything at once.

Start small.

1. Do a mental offload
Write everything down. Not organised—just out of your head.

2. Choose 3 priorities
If those get done, the day counts.

3. Delay one thing on purpose
Everything doesn’t need to be done immediately.

4. Ask for help
Even in small ways. You don’t have to carry everything alone.

5. Take one moment for yourself
Even 10 minutes. No multitasking.

💭 Reflection

• If I’m honest… who am I when I’m not holding everything together?
• Where have I convinced myself I have to cope alone as a mum?
• What part of me feels uneasy when I receive support — and why?
• Have I built my identity around managing everything… and what would happen if I didn’t?
• If I stopped pushing through the mental load of motherhood for a moment… what would I actually feel?

💬 Final Thought

Sometimes it takes losing support, even briefly, to understand how much it really matters.

And sometimes…

relief looks like something as simple as someone being back.

If you’re navigating the mental load of motherhood or figuring things out as a single mum, you’re not alone.

💬 Stay Connected

If this resonated with you and you want more honest reflections like this…

I’ve created a WhatsApp channel for Three & Thriving.

It’s a space where I share:

• real-life thoughts in the moment
• reminders when things feel heavy
• small shifts that help in everyday life

No noise. No pressure. Just real content.

👉 You can join here: Three & Thriving Whatsapp Channel