There are lots of things I don’t enjoy doing:
Killing centipedes.
Raking leaves.
Car servicing and cleaning.
Visiting some relatives.
Hosting big gatherings.
Taking the kids to get haircuts.
Cleaning the BBQ.
Moving carpets under heavy furniture.
Icy arena hockey practices.
Swimming in chlorinated pools.
Washing stinky sports gear.
And do you know how I came up with this list?
I made a list of all the things my husband did.
Yes.
Exactly.
Are you thinking what I’m thinking?!
It was a longer list than I expected! It wasn’t 50-50, but still I had to admit that I wasn’t the only one managing unpaid work in our household.
My kids also have a growing list of chores (aka “life skills”) that they readily manage and that are age-appropriate.
And so that brings me to my second lesson: assume that people are willing to pitch in especially in areas that matter to THEM. And when combined with my first lesson, it also means it’s okay for me to opt out of these tasks. If I don’t want to do them, if I would rather sit and have a mug of tea, that should also be okay for my family members to accept too.
Question: “what invisible work have your family members been doing all along?”
