When we think of expat life, it’s easy to picture the highlights of tropical weekends, new cultures, travel adventures, and a lifestyle filled with opportunity and growth.

On paper, expat life looks like a dream — travel, adventure, new cultures, and exciting opportunities for the whole family. But anyone who’s actually lived it knows: it’s not just a change of country; it’s a change of identity.

If you’re a working mum, you know the feeling. Your brain is juggling everything from deadlines, school lunches, laundry piles, birthday gifts, unanswered emails, forgotten appointments…

If you’re a working mum, you already know: balance can feel like a myth. Between packed lunch boxes, early Zoom meetings, school runs, work deadlines, and bedtime stories you’re constantly pulled in a hundred directions.

Before kids, you knew who you were. You had a sense of purpose, a career you worked hard for, hobbies that lit you up, and friends you saw regularly. Your time was your own. Then motherhood arrived and everything changed.

Let’s talk about what the mental load really is, how it impacts your wellbeing, and what you can do to lighten the load without dropping the ball.