Parenting is often described as exhausting, but the tiredness many parents feel isn’t just physical. There is another kind of labour happening quietly in the background. This labour is largely unseen, rarely named, and deeply draining. This is the invisible emotional load. And as a mom of two myself, trust me when I say, I get it!

When someone we love is struggling, it is natural to want to help. Many of us reach for words to help soothe, encourage, or attempt to alleviate their pain or discomfort.

And often, without meaning to, we say things that leave our people feeling dismissed, minimized, or even isolated.

This isn’t because we don’t care. It’s usually because we’re uncomfortable with suffering and unsure what actually helps.