Iowa mom finds friendship through app as new report reveals 93% of mothers face burnout

A new survey from Peanut, an app designed to connect mothers, found that 93 percent of moms report feeling burnt out. The findings come as many women, including an Iowa transplant now living in Boston, are turning to technology to rebuild the support systems that experts say are crumbling around them.

The Motherhood Index 2026 surveyed more than 4,000 mothers and analyzed half a million posts on the platform. It paints a stark picture of modern motherhood: resilient moms, but villages that are disappearing.

What the Peanut survey found about motherhood burnout

The report, released this month, highlights a crisis of isolation among mothers. Nearly all respondents said they are struggling to find the support they need. Michelle Battersby, president of Peanut, said the data reflects a painful reality.

“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,” Battersby said. “It’s what we’re seeing play out on Peanut daily.”

Key factors driving the burnout include living farther away from family, having children later in life, and raising kids with aging parents or no parents at all. Battersby noted that many women feel they must navigate these challenges privately, leading to shame and isolation.

How an Iowa mom found connection through Peanut

Megan Irey, who recently moved from Iowa to Boston, said the app helped her find a lifeline. She met fellow stay-at-home mom Tiko Bennett through Peanut, and the two have built a close friendship.

“I don’t know that we would have met without the app,” Irey said. “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.”

Bennett, also a Boston mom, said she needed someone who truly understood her situation.

“I just needed somebody who was like, ‘Hey, I’m also very pregnant, I also have a toddler, I’m also losing it,’” Bennett said. “Just to laugh with and get through it together and also enjoy it together.”

For Irey, the friendship helped her through some of her toughest moments as a new mom in a new city.

“It’s hard to be a mom. I think it always has been, and in this new age it’s different,” Irey said. “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.”

Why the ‘village’ is eroding for modern mothers

The Peanut report confirms what many Iowa mothers already know: the traditional support system of extended family and close-knit communities is fading. Battersby said that being a mother was never meant to be done alone.

“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,” Battersby said.

Instead of suffering in silence, she encouraged mothers to seek out spaces for connection and support.

“I think the more openly and honestly we can speak about motherhood, the more that helps women feel less alone,” Battersby said.

Online communities can’t replace real-world support

The survey concluded that mothers are creating their own support systems because institutions are evolving too slowly to meet their needs. While online communities like Peanut help bridge some gaps, the report finds they cannot fully replace human interaction, affordable childcare, and workplace flexibility.

Irey and Bennett have made the effort to meet in person, turning their online connection into an authentic friendship.

“It’s weird almost that in the social media age we have more information and more face time, but it’s not authentic,” Irey said. “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.”

For Iowa families, the findings underscore the importance of community and the need for policies that support working parents. As more mothers face burnout, building real connections may be the most effective remedy.