 Forget women be shopping, women be tired! Mother's, those who work outside and inside the home, are exhausted. We parent with our families further away from us than they have ever been. Most of us are sorely lacking a village. And if that weren't enough and it is more than enough, we are all doing it through a pandemic, that seemingly has no end in sight.
New data from several countries confirms what we already know: women are doing the bulk of the work needed to keep households running- often while juggling paid work. Hence the reason why we are so fatigued. I would not pretend to have a solution to this endemic, but I see you, I am you. What I am doing to try and make my life easier for me? First off, despite being type A, I have given up the drive for perfection. I even forgot school picture day this year and the sky didn't fall. I simply cannot do everything, all the time. There aren't enough hours in the day. I have learned to say no, no to things that I do not want to do. No to things that stretch me beyond capacity. I ask more from those around me, I don't assume they know what needs to be accomplished. I say when I am tapped out and am vocal about when I need to tag out. So to all you mother's pushing through, you are seen, it is hard, so impossibly hard. I hope you get some moments, if only moments of stillness for yourself, to fill your cup over the holidays. Love yourself and give yourself the grace we are so quick to give others. |
