Moms are calling this AI tool a ‘lifesaver' for the mental load they carry every day

Yahoo

2 days ago

From meal planning to daycare checklists, one mom's creative use of ChatGPT is giving exhausted parents everywhere a reason to exhale.
When Lilian Schmidt hit her breaking point, it wasn't because of one big thing—it was the accumulation of everything. The German mom of two, living in Switzerland, was managing the morning chaos, a full-time job, overstimulated daycare pickups, and a running list of invisible tasks. She felt alone in the mental load, even though she had a supportive partner.
'It's not that I have to carry everything alone, but I still often feel that way,' Schmidt told Newsweek. 'Even if my partner and I try to split things 50/50, our brains just work differently.'
So she turned to something unexpected: ChatGPT.
In a now-viral TikTok that's been viewed more than 710,000 times, Schmidt (@heylilianschmidt) explained how she's using AI as an emotional and logistical support system—what some commenters called a 'co-parent,' 'therapist,' and even 'doula.'
For Schmidt, the mental load wasn't just about remembering daycare pickup. It was about planning, anticipating, emotionally regulating, and making a thousand tiny decisions every single day.
So she started giving those tasks to ChatGPT. Now, it:
Plans a full week of meals her kids will actually eat
Writes grocery lists
Suggests age-appropriate birthday gifts
Creates daycare and travel packing checklists
Offers calm, thought-out responses when she's emotionally overwhelmed
'When I'm overwhelmed with so much to get done with work and the kids and house etc I list it all out and ask chat to help me be sat on the sofa by x time or in bed by x time. It gives me a full timed to-do list and it works every time,' shared user @jojo.reid.
Related: The 'mental health walk' that wasn't: this mom's viral tiktok is our collective parenting nightmare
Schmidt was clear that her partner is an active parent—not only to their 3-year-old but also as the primary caregiver for his 14-year-old son. But even in egalitarian households, the default parent role—and the cognitive load that comes with it—often falls to moms.
Research shows that moms carry a significantly heavier share of the mental load at home. A 2023 brief from the Council on Contemporary Families found that partnered mothers spend more than twice as much time as fathers on cognitive labor—things like planning, organizing, and keeping track of family needs. That imbalance isn't just frustrating—it's linked to increased stress, burnout, and lower overall well-being for moms.
That's why tools like ChatGPT, when used intentionally, can offer more than convenience. They offer clarity, relief, and the feeling of not carrying everything alone.
The comments on Schmidt's video tell the story of a much bigger shift. Parents aren't just looking for productivity—they're desperate for emotional relief.
@bridget
provençalkitchen shared, 'I prompt it to create a recipe with what is left in the fridge. I think it helps with the mental load.'
@cks wrote,
'I gave it background on my baby's sleep and it tracked it over a few days then told it to act like a sleep consultant and it tells me what to do for naps etc xx'
@confidentsimone added,
'It helped me since two weeks with our sleep regression for our 18 months old'
'It's my sparring partner when I need to make a decision; my research assistant when I don't have three hours to scroll through Google; and my emotional buffer when I'm about to overthink something,' Schmidt shared.
She emphasizes it's not about becoming more efficient. 'It's about doing the same things faster and with help,' she told Newsweek. 'My life has gotten 10 times easier and, for the first time in a long time, I feel like I have space to breathe.'
Curious what moms are asking ChatGPT? We asked—and the responses were great:
@ashm15: 'Baby sleep schedule and tips. Acitvities to do with baby at home.'
@just.another.canadian.mother: 'Make signs for party. Find activities for kids. Meal ideas. Help with mental load.'
@mqu2487: 'It walked me through secondary infertility. Mental support, and understanding results.'
@lastjenks: 'Yes! For my infant – Wake windows, when to feed, goals for daytime/nighttime sleep.'
Related: Dad took stroller walks to cope—what happened next sparked a movement for struggling fathers
If you're curious but hesitant, there are simple ways to ease into using ChatGPT for everyday parenting stress. You can start by asking it to create a weeknight dinner plan that factors in leftovers and picky eaters. It can help generate packing checklists for daycare, suggest rainy day activities for toddlers, or draft a respectful message to reschedule a work meeting around a pediatric appointment.
This isn't about outsourcing your role—it's about having support for the mental load that comes with it.
What makes Schmidt's story stand out isn't the novelty of using AI. It's the honesty about what it feels like to be maxed out and still expected to remember sunscreen, RSVP to birthday parties, and stay calm through tantrums.
In a world where moms are told to lean in, do more, and 'just get organized,' Schmidt's approach offers something gentler. A moment of space. A sense of support. A reason to exhale.
And with more than 710,000 moms watching—and relating—it's clear she's not alone.