Working Mom Anger and Resentment: Why You’re So Irritable and What to Do About It

In this episode of Lead Like a Mother, licensed therapist and author Christina Runnels dives into a topic that hits every overloaded working mom: anger and resentment. Christina shares her own story of snapping over small moments, like asking kids to put on shoes and explores why these reactions happen when we’re carrying too much. She breaks down why anger isn’t a character flaw but a signal of overload, and shares three practical scripts to help working moms name it, normalize it, and redirect it, without guilt or pretending everything is fine. Connect & work with Christina:Speaking, workshops, consulting: [email protected] Boldly Both: A Mom's Guide to Balancing Career and Family Without Guilt Follow on FacebookEpisode Timeline00:00 – Introduction: Why small moments can trigger big reactions01:01 – Personal Story: The “shoes” moment and early-morning meltdown04:35 – Understanding Your Anger: Overload, unspoken expectations, and grief06:53 – Shift 1 – Name It: Stop gaslighting yourself and identify what’s really happening07:14 – Shift 2 – Normalize It: Recognize that anger is a signal, not a flaw09:31 – Shift 3 – Redirect It: Use scripts to redirect frustration toward partner, work, or self11:50 – Practical Scripts: Real examples for partner, work, and yourself12:29 – Tiny Intentional Moments: How small changes can reduce resentment13:54 – Free Resource: Working Mom Anger & Resentment Script Sheet14:18 – Next Episode Teaser: Setting boundaries without guiltEpisode SummaryYou snap over something small… and then immediately feel guilty. You think, “What is wrong with me?”If this sounds familiar, this episode is for you. Christina Runnels, licensed therapist, author of Boldly Both, and fellow high-achieving working mom, explores why working moms experience anger and resentment. She explains that anger is often misdirected—it comes out sideways on the people we feel safest with—and why it’s not a reflection of your character.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why snapping over small things is actually a signal that you’re overloadedHow to stop the guilt spiral and offer yourself self-compassionThree practical scripts to name, normalize, and redirect anger in everyday lifeHow to communicate needs to your partner, at work, and to yourselfTiny intentional moments that help you release resentment without a major overhaulMentioned in this episodeFree Working Mom Anger & Resentment Script Sheet – includes all three scripts and space to write your own version in your own wordsVisit www.ChristinaRunnels.com for more support and to connect with Christina!