I Need a Break!

Summary

---

Podcast Summary: "I Need a Break!"

The Dr. Laura Podcast
Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Date: March 15, 2026

---

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and candid episode, Dr. Laura takes a call from Stephanie, a new mother struggling with the anger and exhaustion of early motherhood. The discussion delves into the overwhelm that comes with sleep-deprived parenting, the guilt and expectations mothers face, and the crucial importance of self-care by taking breaks and sharing parenting responsibilities. With her characteristic no-nonsense advice and humor, Dr. Laura reassures Stephanie—and listeners—that these difficult phases are temporary, normal, and survivable with the right support and attitude.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Overwhelm of New Motherhood & Emotional Honesty

• Stephanie’s experience: Recently quit her job to be a stay-at-home mom to her 4-month-old, a role she and her husband both valued. She admits to feeling angry, overwhelmed, and convicted about her negative emotions.
  • “I am so angry so often and I get overwhelmed... I felt really convicted about it the other night because he hasn't been sleeping well.” — Stephanie (01:30)
• Dr. Laura’s reassurance: Normalizes Stephanie’s feelings, noting that all mothers experience similar challenges.
  • “This phase doesn't last forever. It sucks, but it doesn't last forever.” — Dr. Laura (02:56)
  • "All that is normal. You talk to anybody and if they’re honest, they’ll tell you they went through all of this. It’s horrible." — Dr. Laura (04:10)

2. The Torture of Sleep Deprivation

• Dr. Laura emphasizes the severity of sleep loss, labeling it the "worst part of the whole thing" and warning of how it can turn moms into a "crabby bitch."
  • "I woke up in the morning and I went, 'oh, shit.' Because, you know, I had to wake up a million times during the night... I was so worn out, my brain was scrambled. That's normal, by the way." — Dr. Laura (04:10)
  • Humorous moment:
    • "I ran into his room and he's sucking on his toe... He slept through the night. Hallelujah. And so did I." — Dr. Laura (04:44)

3. Frustration with the Repetitive, Draining Routines of Parenting

• Stephanie voices frustration about putting in work as a mom, joking about her son not calling her in 18 years.
  • "I feel like I’m putting in so much work for him to just not call me in 18 years.” — Stephanie (03:55)

4. The Cycle of Parenting Phases

• Dr. Laura draws perspective:
  • "You're going to be going through a zillion phases. This is just one... That’s just the glory and the misery all in one place.” — Dr. Laura (04:44-05:20)

5. The Need for Real Breaks (for Moms, Not Babies)

• Dr. Laura prescribes downtime for Stephanie, emphasizing that help from anyone—even just for two hours—will make a difference.
  • "I’m not talking about him napping. I’m talking about you napping. The hell with the kid napping, okay?" — Dr. Laura (08:13)
  • "You have to. Or you're just gonna be a crazier bitch after a while." — Dr. Laura (08:07-08:40)
• Stephanie struggles to “let go” and allow her husband to take charge.
  • "Maybe that’s where I’m having an issue, is because I feel like it’s hard for me to even just, like, let my husband go, take him." — Stephanie (08:40)
• Dr. Laura’s stern rebuttal:
  • "247 doesn't make you a good mother. Makes you a screaming nutcase. You need a husband. Take a break." — Dr. Laura (09:12)

6. Kids Respond Differently to Each Parent

• Dr. Laura assures Stephanie that it’s good for her son to be with his dad and that each parent brings something different to the child.
  • "The kid might be more relaxed with Dad because Dad isn’t as anxious as you are. Kid picks up on that... So the more anxious and upset and angry that you are, the more irritable your baby will be. In other words, you're creating it." — Dr. Laura (09:12-10:21)

7. The Importance of Letting Go and Accepting Help

• Dr. Laura encourages Stephanie to take concrete steps to rest—whether it’s a nap, a walk, or a hot bath.
  • "You need to take breaks. You need to take—put my feet up and take a nap break. You need to take a walking around outside." — Dr. Laura (10:22)
  • Anecdote about navigating sleeplessness in her own mothering:
    • "The only way my son would sleep is... I would walk him in the pram... up and down for two hours... because when he was on in the pram with the bumps, he slept." — Dr. Laura (10:22)

8. The Role of Humor and Directness

• Dr. Laura uses humor and a tough-love approach to drive her points home:
  • "Don't make me come to your house and pinch your head off. I'll do it." — Dr. Laura (11:33)
  • "I used to love when my husband walked in the door, I would go here and take a long shower, waste a lot of hot water. Here, you take them." — Dr. Laura (11:47)
• Emphasizes that babies are sensitive and respond to their parents’ moods.
  • "It’s just not like a robot doll. It’s sensitive, has feelings, and bounces off you. So you need to do the things to calm this down." — Dr. Laura (12:00)

---

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On the fleeting pain of the newborn stage:
  "This phase doesn't last forever. It sucks, but it doesn't last forever."
  — Dr. Laura (02:56)

• On feeling like a 'crabby bitch':
  "The lack of sleep problem is the worst part of the whole thing, and it's making you a crabby bitch."
  — Dr. Laura (03:45)

• On letting someone else help:
  "You just got to have somebody hand the kid over and say, come back in two hours, I have to sleep... Or you're just going to be a crazier bitch after a while."
  — Dr. Laura (08:07-08:40)

• On the importance of breaks:
  "247 doesn't make you a good mother. Makes you a screaming nutcase. You need a husband. Take a break."
  — Dr. Laura (09:12)

• On how mother’s mood affects baby:
  "The more anxious and upset and angry that you are, the more irritable your baby will be. In other words, you're creating it."
  — Dr. Laura (09:50)

• Signature tough love:
  "Don't make me come to your house and pinch your head off."
  — Dr. Laura (11:33)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:30 – Stephanie introduces her situation and feelings of anger/overwhelm
• 02:56 – Dr. Laura introduces the “this phase doesn’t last forever” insight
• 03:45 – Dr. Laura normalizes feeling like a “crabby bitch” from sleep deprivation
• 04:44 – Dr. Laura shares a humorous story about her own son and sleep
• 08:07–08:40 – Dr. Laura insists Stephanie find support and rest, “the hell with the kid napping”
• 09:12 – Advice on parental roles and why “247” mothering is unhelpful
• 09:50–10:21 – How mother’s anxiety affects the baby
• 10:22 – Advice for concrete self-care steps (nap, walk, etc.)
• 11:33 – Dr. Laura’s humorous “I’ll pinch your head off” tough love
• 11:47 – Her story about handing the child to her husband for alone time
• 12:22–12:32 – Final reminders: breaks, hot baths, sleep

---

Takeaways

• The emotional and physical drain of new motherhood is universal and normal—moms aren’t alone in feeling overwhelmed or even angry.
• These difficult parenting phases are temporary, but self-care and support are essential for survival and family health.
• Relying on partners or community for breaks isn’t just allowed—it’s necessary for effective parenting and wellbeing.
• Children benefit from time with both parents and are sensitive to their caregivers’ emotional states.
• Dr. Laura’s blend of compassion, humor, and directness reassures and emboldens parents to take care of themselves as well as their children.

---

Perfect for new parents, especially mothers, who need affirmation that self-care is not selfish, and that struggling is both normal and surmountable.

Transcript

[Narrator]

By order of the Peaky Blinders Academy Award winner Cillian Murphy returns alongside an all star cast including Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, Sophie Rundle with Academy Award nominee Barry Keoghan and Emmy Award winner Stephen Graham. In Netflix's upcoming film Peaky Blinders, the Immortal Man Tommy Shelby must face his own demons and choose whether to confront his legacy or burn it to the ground. Peaky Blinders the Immortal man is in select theaters March 6 and on Netflix March 20.

[Commercial Announcer]

March rated R for my family, I'm always at my best. That's why I also want the best in my kitchen. And that means only Eggland's best eggs. They're always so fresh tasting and delicious with 6 times more vitamin D, 10 times more vitamin E and 25% less saturated fat than ordinary eggs. So why give your family less when they can have the best Egglands best Better taste, better nutrition, better eggs. For added convenience, look for our hard cooked peeled eggs.

[Dr. Laura]

Thanks for listening to my Call of the Day sponsored by Native Path Collagen, the collagen I take daily to support healthy joints, skin, bones and guts. Go to getnativepath.com drlaura for free shipping and a special bundle deal at a fraction of the retail price. Remember, you can hear my radio program Daily on Sirius XM Triumph and Connect with Me 24, [e-mail] Stephanie 1 welcome to the program.

[Stephanie]

Hi.

[Dr. Laura]

Hi.

[Stephanie]

My name is Stephanie and my husband's 29 and I'm 28 and we have been married for it'll be five years this month. And we just had our first child, he's about four months old. We had him back in November and I, I quit my job and decided to become a stay at home mom because I felt like that was really important. We knew before we were even married that that was something important to both of us that we prioritized if we were going to have children. And I am just. Thank you. My mom had me listen to you growing up for many, many years and so, so I appreciate that. But I am so angry so often and I get overwhelmed and I, I felt really convicted about it the other night because he hasn't been sleeping well, of course, and I just, I'll get so angry when he wakes up in the night. None of us are sleeping well and I just, when I was a new

[Dr. Laura]

mother and I was feeling like you're expressing, somebody said to me brilliantly and I'll give it to you so I can sound brilliant. This phase doesn't last forever. It sucks, but it doesn't last forever. And then in 18 years, you're going to call me crying, pulling out your hair, ripping your clothes because your kid leaves and you have an empty nest. So you start out with, I wish this kid could go watch a movie and leave me alone too. They're going to leave and I'm going to miss them. And I feel like I'm not going to be a mother anymore. So you're going to be going through a zillion phases. This is just one. But I've got to tell you, the lack of sleep problem is the worst part of the whole thing, and it's making you a crabby bitch.

[Stephanie]

Yeah, okay. I do feel like I'm a crabby bitch. And I tell my husband all the time. I'm like, you know, I feel like I'm putting in so much work for him to just not call me in 18 years. And, you know, and I feel like, you know, know,

[Dr. Laura]

it doesn't last like this. It doesn't last. I remember when my kid, I woke up in the morning and I went, oh, shit. Because, you know, I had to wake up a million times during the night and breastfeed and this and that and the other thing. I was so worn out, my brain was scrambled. That's normal, by the way. All that is normal. You talk to anybody and if they're honest, they'll tell you they went through all of this. It's horrible. But it was daytime and I thought, he's dead. He has to be dead.

[Stephanie]

Yeah.

[Dr. Laura]

And I ran into his room and he's sucking on his toe. I don't know how flexible babies are. And I just stood there and looked and he's smiling, sucking on his toe. And I. Oh, God. He slept through the night. Hallelujah. And so did I. So you're going to get. And then is he going to poop in the potty? Why is he never going to poop in the potty? And then they poop in the potty. And then you go through thing after thing after thing, and that's just the glory and the misery all in one place.

[Stephanie]

Yeah.

[Commercial Announcer]

Planning a wedding shouldn't feel overwhelming. Thanat brings everything together in one place. Vendors who get yout Vibe, A Custom Planning Checklist, Guest list tools, and a free wedding website that syncs with it all. So instead of juggling a dozen apps and spreadsheets, you can actually enjoy getting married. Get [e-mail] audio the knot. Let's plan your wedding together.

[Adobe Commercial Announcer]

Adobe Acrobat Studio. Your team's home base. Collaborate within a shared PDF space. You've got your docs, your plans, your specs and then invite the crew to build what's next. Talk up the teamwork. They think that this design could be a contender. When somebody wonders what's the next steps, AI helps you finish the rest. Bolts are tight now. Your plan's refined. Run a smoother business when you're on the line. Do that with Acrobat learn [e-mail] do

[Narrator]

that with Acrobat an all new season of the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is now streaming on Hulu and Hulu

[Dr. Laura]

on Disney mom talk has just been blowing up.

[Commercial Announcer]

Whitney and Jen are on Dancing with the Stars.

[Dr. Laura]

Taylor is a bachelorette.

[Stephanie]

Saying that out loud is crazy.

[Dr. Laura]

Like that is huge. But all the cool opportunities could pull us apart.

[Commercial Announcer]

It's causing issues in everyone's marriage. My whole world is falling apart right now.

[Lysol Commercial Announcer]

It's chaos.

[Narrator]

Watch the Hulu Original series the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney for bundle subscribers terms apply.

[Commercial Announcer]

For my family, I'm always at my best. That's why I also want the best in my kitchen. And that means only Eglan's best eggs. They're always so fresh tasting and delicious with 6 times more vitamin D, 10 times more vitamin E and 25% less saturated fat than ordinary eggs. So why give your family less when they can have the best Egglands best? Better taste, better nutrition, better eggs. For added convenience, look for our hard cooked peeled eggs.

[Lysol Commercial Announcer]

Life with kids is non stop. Snacks on the counter, fingerprints everywhere, toys you swear you just cleaned. That's why Lysol is a go to proven disinfection that kills 99.9% of viruses and bacter surfaces. And now a clean that smells great like lavender. Lysol Disinfectant wipes handle everyday surfaces. The All Purpose Cleaner tackles kitchens and bathrooms. And the Power Toilet bowl cleaner disinfects the brush and bowl for two in one disinfection. Because when you're juggling everything, cleaning has to keep up. Don't just clean Lysol clean.

[Dr. Laura]

So if you've got a mommy or a step mommy or a sister or or a cousin or somebody who can come over for a few hours so you can nap, that would be great.

[Stephanie]

I know. That's the hard part. He doesn't want to nap unless I'm holding him.

[Dr. Laura]

I'm not talking about him napping. I'm talking about you napping. The hell with the kid napping, okay? You just got to have somebody hand the kid over and say, come back in two hours, I have to sleep. You have to. Or you're just gonna be a crazier bitch after a while.

[Stephanie]

Maybe that's where I'm having an issue, is because I feel like it's hard for me to even just, like, let my husband go, take him for.

[Dr. Laura]

Sweetheart, you gotta stop that. You gotta stop that. Because you're making yourself yin and yang, and both are nuts. I have to be there all the time to be a good mother. It's only me who can be there to be a good mother. Oh, my God. If somebody. I just. I wish I never did this.

[Stephanie]

Yeah, okay.

[Dr. Laura]

Neither position is sensical. 247 doesn't make you a good mother. Makes you a screaming nutcase. You need a husband. Take a break. And it's funny because kids will act different with each mother. I mean, each parent. And the kid might be more relaxed with dad because dad isn't as anxious as you are. Kid picks up on that. My dog picks up on when I'm a bit anxious about something. A dog can feel it. So can a baby. So the more anxious and upset and angry that you are, the more irritable your baby will be. In other words, you're creating it. Oh, my God. What did she tell me? I'm a terrible mother. I'm making my kid crazy. Did you get the message?

[Stephanie]

Yes, I got it.

[Dr. Laura]

Good. You need to take breaks. You need to take. Put my feet up and take a nap break. You need to take a walking around outside. The only way my son would sleep is there was a mall, a Target mall, close by, walking distance, because we only had one car. So I would walk him in the pram. And that particular mall had sort of like a cobblestone floor, which was incredibly stupid. So it was bumpy. And I would walk up and down for two hours. I swear to you, this is true. In a daze. Not shopping. I was just in a daze because when he was on in the pram with the bumps, he slept. You're going to have to find stuff like that. But each phase is temporary. Keep that in mind and hand your kid over to your husband, please. He's Daddy. Kid needs to bond with Daddy.

[Stephanie]

Yeah.

[Dr. Laura]

And kid needs a break from you. Seriously, you need a break from you.

[Stephanie]

I do.

[Dr. Laura]

Yes. So please do what I tell you. Take breaks. Do you hear me? Don't make me come to your house and pinch your head off. I'll do it.

[Stephanie]

I'll tell my husband you said it. So thank you.

[Dr. Laura]

You hand the kid. I used to love when my husband walked in the door, I would go here and take a long shower, waste a lot of hot water. Here, you take them. And he would be very calm with Daddy because Daddy was calm. You have to understand there's a dynamic. It's just not like a robot doll. It's sensitive, has feelings and bounces off you. So you need to do the things to calm this down.

[Stephanie]

Okay?

[Dr. Laura]

Breaks, hot baths, sleep. Okay.

[Stephanie]

Okay.

[Dr. Laura]

Okay. My number 1-800-375-2872. If you like this podcast, be sure to rate it on Apple Podcasts or your favorite place to listen to my podcast. Of course, I'd love if you gave me five stars. And be sure to share this podcast with a friend on Facebook or your preferred social media platform.

[Northwestern Mutual Announcer]

You're juggling a lot, but you can still squeeze in a financial plan with the Northwestern Mutual Financial advisor as your partner. It's not only possible, it's personalized. So if you're tying the knot, closing on a house, or welcoming a little one, you'll be ready for whatever life tosses your way. It's the right time to feel less stressed and and more certain. That's a better way to money. Let's get started at nm. Com, the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.