Fear of failure

Dallas Morning News: Fans of "Desperate Housewives" may have been most interested in which wife would be killed off in a recent episode, but if they were paying attention, they also discovered a pearl of wisdom. Amid the adultery, deceit and violence of the hit show's eighth episode, there was great insight into the nature of modern motherhood.
Lynette, the career-woman-turned-stay-at-home-mom, flees her home and four children after a midday dream about suicide. When two concerned friends track her down, she confesses to feeling like a failure as a mother. Both women empathize, recalling their own struggles with raising children. Even the "perfect" Stepford-like Bree admits that she used to cry during her kids' naptimes.
"Why didn't you ever tell me this?" Lynette pleads.
The Stepford answer? "Nobody likes to admit they can't handle the pressure."
Struck a nerve
That line struck a nerve with many mothers, both stay-at-home moms and those with careers.
It's not only lack of time, but also the pressure of unrealistic expectations -- both social and self-imposed -- that drives many mothers to despair of their abilities. There is no easy way to deal with the anxiety, but women can lessen the burden by coming out of isolation and sharing their feelings with sympathetic and supportive friends.