<![CDATA[Working mothers who raise children with a very close age gap often face layered psychological pressure caused by unexpressed negative emotions and the double burden of balancing work and household roles. This study aims to understand and describe the dynamics of emotional experience and double-burden management of a working mother raising two children nineteen months apart without full support from her partner. A qualitative case study approach was used, involving one main participant selected purposively based on the richness of information she possessed. Data were collected through a three-series in-depth interview exploring context, experience, and meaning, then analyzed thematically using a phenomenological approach. The findings revealed two main themes: the accumulation of suppressed emotions due to solo caregiving and the pressure of economic and domestic dual roles. Both themes are interrelated and form a pattern of chronic psychological exhaustion in the participant. The close age gap between children also triggers attention-seeking behavior, which becomes one of the main daily stressors for the participant experiencing chronic physical and mental fatigue. This study concludes that the lack of partner support is a central factor that worsens the caregiving fatigue experienced by working mothers with closely spaced children, highlighting the importance of emotional and practical support from partners and the surrounding environment.]]>
