Mom suffering from burnout daydreams of being hospitalized just to get a break, sparking vital debate

Parenting, particularly motherhood, is often a relentless job. It comes without breaks and the weight of constant responsibilities can take a toll, leaving many moms yearning for a reprieve. In a surprising and deeply relatable discussion, some mothers admit that their burnout drives them to imagine unconventional forms of escape—like being hospitalized with a mild illness just to get a few days of uninterrupted rest. This candid confession was sparked by Emily May, a stay-at-home mom—who goes by @emilykmay on X (formerly Twitter)—who shared her thoughts online.

“I don’t know (Idk) if the lack of community care in our culture is more evident than when moms casually say they daydream about being hospitalized for something only moderately serious so that they are forced to not have any responsibilities for three days," May shared in her post. Surprisingly, it resonated deeply, garnered nearly 753k views, and sparked a wave of responses from mothers who nodded in agreement. It’s an experience that many moms said they had thought about but felt hesitant to share.

@DuckieLouise said, "And can confirm: I have the fondest memories of my appendicitis that almost burst 3 weeks after my third was born because I went into emergency to get it taken out. I mean I let my neighbor take my toddlers and I let my husband give the baby formula, and I slept until I was actually rested. Under the knife, but still. It was really nice." @SarahWS11790 humorously remarked, "I’ve said this as a joke before - especially after my husband got COVID and spent 3 days laying in bed. However, I think moms all over the world and in different time periods have had it much harder than modern Western women. We just joke about it more and also freely complain." 

@bjrop91 shared, "Once, an ad was looking for volunteers to get exposed to the flu to test some new antiviral. You would be hospitalized for a week, and get full medical care and $500. My best friend and I fantasized about doing it (she had 4 kids and I had 3. I was taking care of my mom at the time)." What stands out most in these stories is how little support some moms receive, often juggling the full weight of parenting without much help. Some women blamed the lack of effort from their partners. @wbourgou wrote, "If I read this out loud to my husband he'd say it wasn't true and no moms feel that way. Despite the fact that I've been struggling for months and tell him constantly that maternity leave is overwhelming. It's not just lack of community care."

@ChillerJanow added, "Been there done that. Only problem was when my husband signed me out against doctor orders because he just couldn't deal (35 years ago, but still)." However, many didn't seem to agree with the statement. @JPaulNorton said, "Women talking about I need 3 days without responsibilities and care while they've got a messy bun and glasses on with a cup of coffee on the couch at 9 pm with 2 of their 3 kids already asleep and the 3rd doing a puzzle quietly in the playroom." @JaclynJC1981 quipped, "I am still recovering from emergency surgery removing my gallbladder. I hated not being home to take care of the house and the kids. Now that I am home, I am limited to what I can do."