Why You Can't Relax Even When You Finally Have Time To with Emily Jones and Julie Dobbs

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Have you ever caught yourself thinking, in the middle of an especially relentless week, that a minor car accident might actually be a relief — if it meant a doctor's note to lie in bed for two days? No serious injuries, just... permission to stop?

Yeah. Emily and Julie get it.

JoAnn sits down with Emily Jones and Julie Dobbs, hosts of the Mom Game podcast, for an honest, unfiltered conversation about what it's actually like to be a high-achieving mom who cannot turn her brain off. They talk about the badge of honor we've attached to being busy, the two kinds of mental load (logistical and emotional — and why the emotional one never stops), hormones, perimenopause, the mom volunteer spiral, and what has genuinely helped each of them find moments of real relaxation in the middle of all of it.

In this episode:

The "minor car accident" fantasy — and why even joking about it should be a warning sign

Why high-achieving moms struggle to turn their brains off even when they technically have downtime

The difference between the logistical mental load and the emotional mental load (and why the emotional one follows you everywhere)

Why you're only as happy as your saddest kid — and what to do with that

How hormones and perimenopause are contributing to the overwhelm nobody talked about until now

The mom volunteer spiral: who's creating it, who's perpetuating it, and why moms are sometimes part of the problem

Why normalizing imperfection — including being open about your kid's ADHD diagnosis — actually helps everyone

What's genuinely helped each of them relax: girlfriends, court sports, a good group chat, and improv comedy

How to know when you need an outlet before you explode (and why you never want to wait until you do)

This one feels like sitting around with friends who get it. No solutions required — just a conversation that makes you feel a little less alone in all of it.

Find Emily and Julie on the Mom Game podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Remember: the best mom is a happy mom. Take care of you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices