You’re not failing because your marriage isn’t 50/50. You’re not broken because your husband doesn’t instinctively scrub the toilet or remember your kid’s shoe size. The modern fantasy of perfect equality in parenting is exhausting—and unrealistic for many of us raised in a different world. This piece is for the moms making it work, the women choosing independence, and anyone tired of being told it’s their fault if their partner won’t “step up.” Let’s talk about what real partnerships look like—flaws, uneven loads, and all.

We love to toss around “it takes a village,” but what happens when there is no village? No one to hold the baby while you shower, no friend to text when you’re unraveling in a parking lot. For millions of moms, this is the everyday reality—and it’s slowly breaking them.

This isn’t a personal failing. It’s a societal setup. If you’ve ever whispered “I can’t do this anymore” into the dark, this one’s for you.