If you could twist the top off my skull and peer into my brain at any given moment (I’m so sorry, that’s really gross imagery), here’s what you would be assaulted with:
How often, as women, do we hear, “just tell me what you want me to do, and I’ll do it”? It seems like the simplest solution for frustrated mums! Just tell your husband what you need him to do and voila! No more stress.
However, this ignores a very basic biological fact: Men have the exact same number of eyes and brains as women, and are more than capable of seeing and comprehending what needs to be done without being asked.
While asking doesn’t seem like a big deal, carrying the weight of the family’s needs is a huge responsibility – dare I say, burden – and that’s why it’s the managers in workplaces getting paid the big bucks, even as the employees do the brunt of the labour.
So yes, mums are angry. They’re bitter, and they’re burnt out because they’re working a skilled job and not only getting nothing in return, but no one even knows what they do.
Is it any wonder “burnout” is the buzz word du jour?
Do you agree that mums, and women, process more of the mental load than their male counterparts? Tell us in a comment below.
Top Comments
If you don’t want to, or dont have time to do these things - hire help!! I outsource as much as I can as experts can do the jobs quicker, better and cheaper - then I can use my time to be..ha ha...a project manager, who sure as hell gets paid more than $120k, that’s crazy low!!
Umm no. Sorry, but this is a ridiculous comparison and I'm getting quite sick of these memes and articles going around trying to compare parenthood - a lifestyle you WILLINGLY VOLUNTEERED FOR - with a professional career. It's insulting to people who have worked hard for their careers and it also does nothing to further the cause of mothers who feel alienated and not listened to. All it does is make people tune out.
I have a cat. I feed and clean up after and take my cat to the vet for his regular checkups (an expensive exercise which I pay for out of pocket mind you - no Medicare for pets!) I also volunteer with animals some weekends. Do you see me whingeing and crying because I'm not being paid a six-figure salary for doing the bare minimum for a pet that I CHOSE to care for? Of course not, that would be beyond ridiculous!
I get it - parenting is hard. Having kids is a full time job that you never get to quit and are stuck in for the rest of your life. It's still a choice though. In 2019, no one is holding a gun to anyone's head and forcing them to have a baby. Even nature can no longer force parenthood on anyone - we have things like the Pill and condoms and abortion to take care of that. So whether you want to admit it or not, this is a job and lifestyle you CHOSE to take on. A smart person does their research and negotiates their salary before accepting a job offer. So I have to wonder, if you knew this lifestyle would involve 100% unpaid labour beforehand, why you decided to take it on in the first place?