Chinese Mother Faces Burnout from Solo Parenting Three Daughters

On February 14, Channel A's show '요즘 육아 금쪽같은 내 새끼' (My Little One) featured a heart-wrenching story of a Chinese mother struggling with burnout from raising her three daughters alone. During the episode, the mother was seen preparing meals and caring for her daughters while her husband remained in another room until dinner was ready. After the family finished eating, she collected the leftover food and stood to eat her own meal. The show's host, 홍현희, expressed concern, asking if the father could help during mealtime. Eventually, the father did assist with the dishes, but when the mother requested him to watch the children while she took a break, he suggested she could just sleep with the baby instead. This led to the mother shedding tears of frustration, which her second daughter comforted. The mother expressed a desire for her husband to acknowledge her hard work with a few kind words. After witnessing the emotional moment, the father admitted he had not realized the extent of her struggles. Dr. 오은영 commented on the mother's exhaustion, noting that while she is happy, the demands of parenting are overwhelming. She highlighted the limits of human energy and time, warning that the mother is at risk of severe parenting burnout. The mother answered affirmatively to nine items on a burnout checklist, shocking those around her. Dr. 오은영 emphasized that the mother is doing her best and needs rest, while also suggesting that the father should participate more in nighttime parenting, despite his work commitments.