BOSTON — Ninety-three percent of mothers say they are burnt out. That’s according to the latest survey conducted by Peanut—an app specifically designed to connect moms across all stages of life.
It found moms are resilient more than ever, but their villages around them are crumbling—and their challenge is building that support system.
Megan Irey and Tiko Bennett are both stay-at-home moms. Both have young children, and both met on Peanut.
“I don’t know that we would have met without the app,” said Megan Irey, of Boston. “You know, it’s easy in a city as big as Boston. It’s easy not to cross paths actually with people even if they are your neighbors.”
Often described as a “Tinder for moms,” Peanut uses matchmaking technology to help women find local friends, ask for advice, and build a supportive community. Tiko went on the app not only in search of a friend, but to find someone who truly understood what she was going through.
“I just needed somebody who was like, ‘Hey, I’m also very pregnant, I also have a toddler, I’m also losing it,’ said Tiko Bennett, a Boston mom. “Just to laugh with and, you know, get through it together and also enjoy it together.”
For Megan, who just moved from Iowa, her new friendship with Tiko helped her get through some of her toughest times.
“It’s hard to be a mom,” said Irey. “I think it always has been, and in this new age it’s different. It’s different than anything our parents went through, but it’s just great to find someone that is enjoying it in the same way, even through the hard parts.”
It’s no secret motherhood has its challenges. But the Motherhood Index 2026 surveyed more than 4,000 moms on Peanut and analyzed half a million posts. It found:
- 93 percent of mothers reported experiencing burnout.
- 61 percent described their well-being as good, despite widespread exhaustion.
- Many normalized stress and overload because it has become a standard part of the parenting experience.
“It’s not a great reflection of what we have come to accept in motherhood, but that’s the truth, and that’s how women are feeling currently,” said Michelle Battersby, President of Peanut. “It’s what we’re seeing play out on Peanut daily.”
President of Peanut Michelle Battersby says being a mother was never meant to be done alone—and it takes a village. But that village is eroding as moms are living farther away from family and having children later in life, which means raising kids with aging parents or no parents at all.
“So I think that plays into a lot of women feeling like they have to navigate this privately, and there can be a lot of shame built into asking for help and speaking about how you actually feel,” said Battersby.
Instead of suffering through it, Battersby says it’s important to create spaces for women to connect and have access to more support.
“I think the more openly and honestly we can speak about motherhood, the more that helps women feel less alone,” said Battersby.
Megan and Tiko no longer feel alone. While they did meet on social media, they’ve made the effort to meet in person—and it truly was the support they needed.
“It’s weird almost that in the social media age we have more information and more face time, but it’s not authentic,” said Irey. “So to actually have authentic friendships and be able to go and do activities with your kids and get out of the house is really important.”
The survey concluded that mothers are creating their own support systems because institutions are evolving too slowly to meet their needs. While online communities help bridge some gaps, the report finds they cannot fully replace human support, affordable childcare, and workplace flexibility.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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