A viral TikTok video with over 1.3 million views is putting the spotlight on stay-at-home moms everywhere. In the video, Holly McBride shares how she walked out of her house at the crack of dawn and checked into a hotel for a much-needed break. The reason? Her husband told her that being a stay-at-home mom was “easy.” Spoiler: It’s not.
“So I left him… right before my son wakes up for his very early morning bottle,” Holly says in the video. “I’m about to go get a bagel, eat that bagel, watch TV, and sleep. I don’t have to check out ‘til 11 a.m. I hope you have a good day, babe.”
And moms across the internet cheered as Holly reclaimed her peace. (One commenter: “When you get home – ask what’s for dinner and what he did all day and why your laundry isn’t done. then go to the toilet for 45 minutes. then pat the kid’s head. then go to the basement until dinner.”)
But the video is also hitting a nerve—and sparking a bigger conversation about how society undervalues the work of stay-at-home moms and motherhood in general.
SAHMs: Misunderstood and undervalued
Here’s the thing: The term “stay-at-home mom” doesn’t even come close to describing the job. It makes it sound like moms are chilling on the couch all day. Reality? It’s beautiful and grueling labor that includes everything from managing schedules, making meals, cleaning messes, soothing tantrums, and keeping tiny humans alive and thriving—all while navigating the mental load of everything else a family needs.
But as Holly’s experience shows, the cultural narrative hasn’t caught up. According to Motherly’s State of Motherhood Survey, our annual study of motherhood, 78% of moms feel that society doesn’t value or support their work. For stay-at-home moms, this lack of recognition can feel even more isolating, especially when their contributions aren’t seen as “real work.”
Related: The invisible work of a stay-at-home mom
The invisible load of motherhood
Being a mom isn’t just about keeping up with the daily grind. It’s the constant mental gymnastics—remembering doctor’s appointments, managing school forms, figuring out how to stretch a grocery budget, and anticipating everyone’s needs.
In fact, Motherly’s study found that stay-at-home moms report lower levels of wellbeing compared to working moms, in part because they don’t get the professional validation (or breaks) that come with paid work. Add in the societal expectation that moms are supposed to “love every minute” of parenting, and you’ve got a recipe for parental burnout.
Related: This dad has the audacity to say being a stay-at-home mom isn’t a ‘real job’
Holly’s viral wake-up call
Holly’s bold move to leave for a night wasn’t just about self-care—it was about drawing a line in the sand. It’s a reminder to partners and society alike: Motherhood is work.
Here’s how we can do better:
- Recognize that caregiving is a full-time job, whether moms are at home or in the office.
- Advocate for better policies like paid leave, affordable childcare, and family support systems.
- Encourage moms to take time for themselves without guilt—because rest is productive, too.
Holly’s story is a mood (bagels, TV, and sleep for the win), but it’s also a wake-up call. If moms have to go viral to get the appreciation they deserve, we have a lot of work to do.Let’s stop calling it “staying at home” and start calling it what it really is: the essential, exhausting, and irreplaceable work of caregiving. Holly nailed it: “I hope you have a good day, babe.” Here’s hoping society finally gets the memo.
