Latest news with #Lilian Schmidt
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
The mom using AI to cut 97% of her mental load—and find more time for her kids
Most moms don't need a smartwatch to track their stress levels—the mental load of parenting does that all on its own. It's the never-ending checklist in your head: Who's got soccer practice? What's for dinner? Did I sign that permission slip? It's invisible, exhausting, and somehow always your job. But for Zurich mom and corporate brand strategist Lilian Schmidt, that mental load just got 97% lighter—thanks to an unlikely assistant. She's using AI to handle everything from meal planning to meltdown-proof morning routines, freeing up her brain for the part of parenting she loves most: actually being with her kids. Along the way, she's learned simple AI parenting tips that any mom or dad can try to lighten their mental load. Meet Lilian: A mom, stepmom, and AI pioneer Lilian Schmidt is a corporate brand strategist based in Zurich, juggling life as a mom to a lively 3-year-old daughter and stepmom to a 14-year-old teen. Like many working parents, her days are a complex dance of meetings, meal prep, and managing family needs — all while trying to carve out moments of calm. Lilian discovered ChatGPT earlier this year and quickly realized its potential to ease her daily mental load. What started as using the AI for simple tasks like meal planning and play ideas soon evolved into a full-on partnership. When she wasn't satisfied with the AI's answers, she took it a step further by training her own custom chatbot to think more like her — adapting its responses to fit her family's unique rhythm and style. This innovative approach allows Lilian to offload the repetitive, logistical tasks while keeping the heart of parenting firmly in her hands — using AI to support, not replace, her role as a mom and stepmom. Related: I'm a ChatGPT convert—here's how it helps with my mental load of motherhood The mental load, redefined: 5 AI parenting tips that work for this mom Lilian's daily to-do list is endless—but five go-to ChatGPT prompts have become her secret weapon. Meal planning: In minutes, AI delivers a week's worth of nutritious, kid-friendly, budget-conscious dinners, plus tips for prepping ahead—no more 5 p.m. 'what's for dinner?' panic. Grocery lists: Automatically organized by category so shopping is faster and less overwhelming. Morning routines: Customized plans that reduce chaos, factor in toddler mood swings, and get everyone dressed, fed, and out the door with minimal meltdowns. Independent play: Creative, low-mess activities that keep her daughter engaged for 30 minutes without screens or constant supervision. Sleep struggles: Gentle, age-appropriate tips for common challenges—without adding stress. By handing off these repetitive, logistical tasks to ChatGPT, Lilian gains time, mental space, and the freedom to focus on what matters most—those hugs, giggles, and quiet moments that make parenting worth it. Related: Moms are calling this AI tool a 'lifesaver' for the mental load they carry every day How AI helps her manage stress and find calm ChatGPT serves Lilian both as a digital planner and a compassionate sounding board, helping her navigate the emotional weight of motherhood when it feels heavy. She turns to the AI to vent frustrations, talk through challenges, and gain fresh perspectives when her toddler's tantrums or the constant juggling of responsibilities threaten to overwhelm her. While she's clear that ChatGPT isn't a substitute for therapy or professional support, it offers a nonjudgmental space to sort through feelings and gain clarity in moments of stress. This kind of emotional decompression is vital for any parent, especially moms who often carry the lion's share of mental and emotional labor. Self-care isn't a luxury; it's a necessity, and technology can be a powerful ally in making it accessible. By using AI to help process emotions and lighten her mental load, Lilian creates room for patience, presence, and kindness—both toward her children and herself. Related: The soap dispenser experiment: a window into the invisible mental load of motherhood Broader trend: Parents embracing AI to reclaim time and reduce stress Lilian's story is part of a larger shift among parents who are exploring how AI can ease the relentless demands of caregiving. Across the globe, more moms and dads are integrating AI tools into their daily routines to manage everything from meal planning to behavior strategies, freeing up precious time and mental space. This growing embrace of technology reflects a desire not just to survive parenthood, but to approach it with greater calm, intentionality, and balance. At the same time, professionals caution against overreliance on technology. While AI can support organization and offer ideas, it cannot replace the nuance of human connection, intuition, or empathy that parents provide. Used thoughtfully, AI can empower families—but it should never overshadow the irreplaceable value of genuine, personal engagement. Navigating boundaries: Let AI help, but keep the heart of parenting human As more parents turn to AI to tame the daily chaos, it's worth pausing to ask: Where does this tool truly help—and where might it get in the way? AI can be a game-changer for managing logistics and easing stress, but it should never overshadow the core of parenting: emotional connection. A useful gut check is to ask yourself: When is technology lifting my mental load, and when is it creating distance? Setting clear boundaries—like reserving certain times of day for unplugged family moments—helps ensure AI acts as a bridge, not a barrier. Small habits make a big difference. Use AI for meal planning, schedules, or reminders, but protect the moments that matter most: the warmth of a bedtime story, a hug after a tough day, or the unspoken understanding that comes from being fully present. Ultimately, technology should support parents, not stand in for the deep, human bonds that make families thrive. Reclaiming sanity, one prompt at a time Lilian's story shows that motherhood doesn't have to mean carrying the full mental load alone. With tools like ChatGPT, parenting can feel lighter and more joyful, freeing up energy for the moments that matter most. Her experience invites all parents to consider their own boundaries with tech: Where does it genuinely help, and where might it risk replacing human connection? Used thoughtfully, AI can handle the repetitive tasks—while you stay present for the hugs, stories, and shared moments only you can give. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Moms Are Getting Skewered for Using ChatGPT's Parenting Advice Because of Course We Are
Anything that makes moms' lives a tiny fraction easier should be taken away, right? Because moms are supposed to suffer — how else would we know that they are truly good mothers? At least, living in 2025, that's what it feels like. In this Handmaids Tale-era, with abortion rights being stripped away, governmental benefits like SNAP being slashed, and even research into childhood diseases being defunded, it feels like everyone wants moms to live in pure misery. And even when we've found little ways to fight back and help ease our burdens, we get slammed for it. Enter: ChatGPT. Sure, it's OK if tech bros want to use it to make their work burdens easier or men use it to menu plan, but god forbid a woman try to share her mental load with artificial intelligence. Grab the pitchforks, folks! More from SheKnows Teens Are Considering 'Influencing' & OnlyFans 'Modeling' as Valid Career Options Take TikToker Lilian Schmidt (@heylilianschmidt), for example. She started posting videos of using generative AI to help her 'co-parent' and has received a ton of hate for it. The influencer used ChatGPT to create shopping lists, menu plans, help plan birthday parties and vacations, make bedtime easier, and so much more. 'I've built my own bot to be our co-parent,' the Switzerland mom of a 3-year-old told New York Post. She added that she uses ChatGPT 'to make me a better mom.' Schmidt credits 'the mental load' for her use of ChatGPT, adding that her partner is 'very involved with the kids and does his fair share,' but that still leads her to 'do the thinking.' 'I asked ChatGPT to assume the role of a toddler therapist,' Schmidt told the outlet, 'someone who understands their development. I asked it 'help me understand why bed time is hard for her.' For the last nearly four years we'd been told, 'She needs to relax, calm down, nothing overstimulating.' But she'd never just lie down. ChatGPT told us she needs stimulating. Let her jump around on her bed.' 'We've never once had a power struggle again. There are no tears or fights anymore. Within five to 10 minutes she goes to bed,' she added. In a world where therapy is expensive (especially if it takes a while to find the right therapist), I don't blame her at all for turning to ChatGPT for some ideas. After all, we use to have a village of support we could lean on and ask for advice and opinions. Now we have ChatGPT — and some people aren't happy about it. People took to X to shame Schmidt. 'To be honest, for some people there's nothing ChatGPT could do that make their parenting worse,' someone wrote, per Daily Dot. Another said, 'On the bright side, ChatGPT is definitely a better parent than a mother who would leave her kids for an AI to babysit. So they're getting higher quality care than they would were she just doing it herself.' It's not like she's sitting her kids in front of a computer and letting ChatGPT watch them. She's literally asking for advice on healthy recipes, looking to it for guidance on common problems, asking it to make coloring pages and bedtime stories for her daughter. Those of us who are wary of AI's impact on the environment raise a brow, but otherwise, who cares? This is no different from Googling problems or reading books or asking your parenting Facebook groups. And Schmidt isn't the only ones who turn to tech to help with motherhood. A 2024 study found that 74 percent of parents of kids ages 5-8 used ChatGPT. One mom asked on the Toddlers subreddit how to 'use ChatGPT to make your life easier as a parent?' and some people left pretty mean comments like 'f— ai.' 'With respect, please think twice before using it for parenting or anything else,' another person wrote. 'It is (literally) a plagiarism machine that feeds you unvetted information based on whatever patterns it thinks it sees in whatever its data inputs are.' Someone else warned, 'Do not use ChatGPT / Large Language Model AIs to diagnose or treat your child.' Which, fair. AI should never be used in place of a therapist or pediatrician or turned to for legitimate medical advice. Others were positive, though, including people who suggested using it to make up songs using their children's name, write thank you notes to teachers, and, yes, meal plan. In a previous interview with SheKnows, bestselling author and founder of Good Inside Dr. Becky Kennedy opened up about parents' mental health. 'There are so many causes of stress and burnout and mental health concerns [for parents],' Dr. Becky told us. 'The big theme that's on my mind is how demanding it is to be a parent right now.' She added, 'There even seems to be shame around seeking support, because of the old narrative that this is just supposed to be done by instinct.' (And she's not even talking about support by ChatGPT — just support, period!) 'When we remind ourselves, 'this feels hard because it is hard, not because I'm doing something wrong,'' Dr. Becky told us, 'we stop living in shame, and we feel more empowered to go get support.' Whether that's from a friend, a mental health professional, or ChatGPT (or all of the above), moms deserve support any way they can get it. These celebrity parents have admitted to . Best of SheKnows Rugged Meets Romantic in These 'Quiet Western' Names: All the Charm, None of the Grit I Didn't Expect My Teen Daughter's Friendship Drama to Impact My Own 27 Stunning, Unique Jewelry Brands & Pieces for Teens Solve the daily Crossword
