Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and many families are already thinking of what they can give their mothers to show how much they appreciate them.
Do you think she should get chocolate? Nope. Nope. Nope. No. No, no, and no.
This Mother’s Day, give your mother gifts that are sure to have a positive impact on her long-term health and wellbeing.
1. Do a chore that mum hates and hold onto it … forever
Research indicates that men are spending more time on childcare and housework. Mothers, however, have been doing less. ).
Women do more housework, particularly when children are at home.
Men tend to take on the more enjoyable tasks like Cooking and playing with children. This leaves mothers to handle the less pleasant chores, such as cleaning the toilets and emptying the fridge.
Some critics suggest that equality could suffer when children are involved.
Give your mother (or mothers) the gift of equal childcare and housework sharing this year – begin by taking on the most hated tasks and hold them forever.
Research shows that housework inequality can be bad for women’s health. Unfairly valuing the housework of women and unequally sharing chores can lead to relationship problems and divorce.
The time spent on housework and childcare is essential to keeping the family harmonious, happy, and flourishing. This can often be at the cost of the mother’s health.
Do the most tedious, constant, and drudgery household chores instead (hello, cleaning moldy showers!) Keep doing them forever.
2. Start a mental deload
The Mental Load includes all the planning, organizing, and management tasks necessary to run a family.
Mental load is often equated with making lists or assigning tasks to family members.
It’s much more than that – it’s the work that goes along with this thinking.
The mental load is the constant worry that can be done at any time, anywhere, and with anyone.
The mental load we perform is invisible because it takes place in our minds. We don’t realize that we are doing this work or someone else is unless we pay attention.
It is usually when we are able to tune in through relaxation, meditation, or quiet time that that mental load shows its ugly face. You suddenly remember to get oranges for the soccer match on Saturday, to plan a family movie evening, and to call Nanna.
Shows that women in heterosexual relationships do more mental work, with serious implications for their mental health. We don’t know how to measure the cognitive load of women in same-sex relationships.
Spend some time on Mother’s Day talking, cataloging, and balancing the mental load of your family.
It’s not just about making a checklist of what needs to be done but also understanding the connection between the mental load and the emotional health and wellbeing of the family and the person who is carrying this hidden labor, worry, and stress.
3. Speak out for your mother and all caregivers
Families cannot provide all the care we need to thrive.
The role of local governments, workplaces, and communities is also crucial. Pick a mother-related issue (such as equal pay, affordable childcare, or paid family leave), and do something to make a difference.
You can write a letter to the boss of your company, to your local MP, or to a group that promotes gender equality.
You can also model these behaviors yourself. Normalize caring as an essential part of being a good worker. Create policies and practices to help junior staff take care of themselves, their families, and their community.
The research shows that men are equally caring and sharing, but they often worry about what their employers will think if they take time off to care for their children. This is despite the fact that fathers who ask for flexible work hours are viewed more favorably.
It was impossible to appear to be devoted solely to work during the pandemic, with children, spouses, and partners home all day.
It is important to learn how to create workplaces and communities that are more inclusive of care.
The care safety net would be strengthened by policies such as paid parental leave, high-quality, affordable childcare, flexibility of how, when, and where one works, and increased investments in sick leave and long-term disability.
We’ll all need to provide care at some stage in our lives. Let’s create an environment that supports caregiving by all, not only mum.
