- A 2024 study shows that the “mental load” in families is unequally distributed: mothers manage 79% of daily tasks
- 83% of mothers take care of “keeping track of the family calendar,” and 77% of mothers keep “track of household supplies”
- Maggie Dent, parenting expert: “More and more women are experiencing parental burnout”
Bucharest, April 15, 2025 – Over 79% of daily responsibilities in a family with children are managed by mothers, while fathers predominantly handle (65%) episodic matters related to maintenance and finances, according to a study conducted last year in the UK and analyzed by ParentED Fest. Experts are drawing attention to the impact this mental load has on parents’ mental health, especially that of mothers.
“More and more women are experiencing parental burnout. Social conditioning also contributes to our increased states of overwhelm. Social norms mixed with biological drives can still play out unconsciously,” says Maggie Dent, one of Australia’s most recognized educators and parenting experts.
Widely recognized for her expertise in child development and balanced parenting—and often referred to as “the voice of boys”—Maggie Dent highlights how technology intensifies this growing problem:
“One of the worst things that is contributing to excessive mental load is definitely the smart phone. There are so many messages on school WhatsApp groups organizing all the things that need to be organized – and there are often different groups for your different children. This is causing cognitive fatigue and subsequently creates stress in the nervous system.”
The differences become even more pronounced when looking at specific household tasks: according to the 2024 UK study based on a sample of parents from the United States, 83% of mothers take care of “keeping track of the family calendar,” 77% “keep track of household supplies,” and 76% notice when the house needs cleaning. In contrast, 69% of fathers report taking responsibility for specific tasks, such as “remembering when electronics or the car need service” and 66% for “researching options for financial products.”
Specialists emphasize that this unequal distribution of “invisible work” can have significant consequences on family balance and parents’ mental health, requiring awareness and a more equitable redistribution of tasks.
Maggie Dent will be in Bucharest on October 4-5, to speak at ParentEd Fest 2025.
Romania’s largest parenting event, ParentED Fest, will take place in Bucharest on October 4-5, 2025. Now in its second edition, the event will bring together world-class experts in child development and care: Dr. Laura Markham, psychologist and bestselling author on connection-based parenting; Dr. Shefali, internationally renowned clinical psychologist, who returns to ParentED Fest for the second time, following the success of last year’s edition; Dr. Gordon Neufeld, psychologist specializing in child development and pioneer in the field of attachment; and Maggie Dent, recognized parenting expert and author of books on balanced child development.
ParentED Fest 2025 is supported by Lidl Romania – Strategic Partner and Sanador – Healthcare Partner, but also by ThedaMar, Catena, Raiffeisen Bank, Aqua Carpatica, Activ. Innovation Partner – Alfa Foundation. Media Partners – Zyx Books, Pagina de Psihologie, Psychologies. The festival is organised with support from Matca Social Club, Destiny Park, CyberJump, Genesis College, KinetoBebe, Museum of Senses and Acvatic Bebe Club.
Tickets are on sale at https://parentedfest.ro/ and in the IaBilet.ro network.
*A typology of US parents’ mental loads: Core and episodic cognitive labor, Ana Catalano Weeks, Leah Ruppanner, 2024
Media enquiries: Stefan Pascuta +40 748 883 201
