Must-Read Book Recommendation: "Fair Play" by Eve Rodsky
I have some very important questions to ask you:
How do you determine who does what chores at your house?
Do you have a system?
Are there things that never get done?
Do you wish your partner would pick up the slack?
Have you heard the phrase "mental load"?
Mental load refers to the cognitive and emotional burden associated with managing and organizing various aspects of life, often involving tasks, responsibilities, and decision-making. It encompasses the mental effort required to plan, coordinate, and remember tasks, deadlines, and details related to both household and personal matters.
This concept is often discussed in the context of gender dynamics, as it's been observed that women frequently bear a disproportionate amount of mental load within households and families. This can include responsibilities such as planning meals, organizing schedules, remembering appointments, coordinating childcare, and managing household supplies.
Mental load can lead to feelings of stress, overwhelm, and burnout, as individuals constantly juggle multiple mental tasks, often without clear boundaries or breaks.
Globally, women spend approximately 4.1 hours per day on unpaid care work, compared to about 1.7 hours for men.
(Source: International Labour Organization, "Women at Work: Trends 2016")
In a study, 75% of women reported that managing the household was their responsibility, leading to lower marital satisfaction for both partners.
(Source: Drexler, P. T., & Floyd, K. "Perceived Equity, Marital Satisfaction, and Family Functioning.")
I wanted to share a book recommendation that I believe could make a significant impact on the way we approach household responsibilities and achieve a more balanced and fulfilling family life. The book is called "Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live)" by Eve Rodsky.
In "Fair Play," Eve Rodsky addresses the all-too-familiar issue of unequal distribution of household and family responsibilities within relationships. She introduces a practical system designed to help couples redefine their approach to managing their homes and creating a fair division of labor. Rodsky's approach is akin to running a household like a business, where tasks are assigned based on strengths and preferences, and open communication is key.
The book not only highlights the importance of achieving gender equality at home but also provides a step-by-step guide on how to implement the Fair Play system (who doesn't love real clear actionable steps to make progress)! She uses real-life stories to illustrates how couples have successfully transformed their relationships and created a more balanced and harmonious family dynamic.
To Learn More about Eve Rodsky:
https://www.fairplaylife.com/the-book
If you like the sound of Eve's process, but you can't get started because you are already sleep-deprived and overwhelmed because your child is not sleeping, I can tell you that is a solvable problem. Children between the ages 6 months and 10 years of age have the capability to learn sleep skills to achieve easy bedtimes, peaceful nights, reliable naps and more time for yourself and your partner to work on "fair play" in your household.
The first step to see if I can help you achieve beautiful, blissful sleep is to schedule a 60 minute ZOOM sleep strategy session. Go to this link and complete the contact me form and I will be in touch within 24 hours with directions on how to schedule your Sleep Strategy Session.
If you are still wondering if I can help, please know I do NOT advocate 'cry-it-out'. I am a Gentle Sleep Coach. If you want to learn about my guilt-free and gentle process, please go to these links.
The Blissful Baby Stairway to Sleep
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