In previous times all the burden fell on the mothers, who took care of the children and absolutely all the household chores: cooking, cleaning, running errands, washing clothes. The list went on and on. Currently in many homes the responsibilities are shared: both dad and mom are involved in raising children and together we collaborate to keep our house tidy and beautiful.
Today it is very normal that we divide the tasks or take turns so that the load does not fall on one of us. However, there is still something that stays mainly in mothers: mental load.
A mother realized this and decided to publish an example of the long list of thoughts that we mothers have at the end of the day, because although we do many things, in our minds there are always others to do.
When I read Meredith Ethington's post on her Facebook Perfection Pending page, I felt totally identified. Maybe it's because we are women, but our minds are always busy with all the earrings we have to do or the things we suddenly remember.
In men it is very different. Although of course they also have their concerns and pending issues, it seems to them that it is easier to "disconnect" from that mental burden and take a moment to rest, as we see in the photo and the text that Meredith published.
THOUGHTS THE MOTHERS HAVE AFTER A LONG DAY OF WORK:
OMG. This house is a mess.
Do we have enough bread for tomorrow's lunch?
I have to talk to my five-year-old son about honesty and have him return that toy he borrowed.
I hope I can sleep a little today. I mean, really sleep, where can I dream or squirm or something. I should buy a sleep mask.
Did I put the clothes in the dryer?
Did I say 'Send' to that email?
Is it too late to enroll the eight-year-old soccer player even if there are six months left?
Are they up to date with their vaccinations for school?
Do we need more food for the cat?
I should clean the cabinets.
How is it possible that the ceiling fan is SO dusty? I mean, seriously. Why is there so much dust in a fan that spins all day? How is that possible?
I keep finding spiders. I need to call the sprayer.
I hope that if we enter that good preschool and not the one that looks suspicious, it sure has a hand-foot-mouth infestation.
I hope I bought the right sunscreen and not the one that provoked any reaction.
How long was the last time I watered the flowers outside?
I should wash the sheets.
I bet Karen washes her sheets every week.
I need a damn vacation from this mom's life, but who would remember that we need more noodles?
I will kill someone if I don't have chocolate after the children have gone to bed.
THOUGHTS THAT PARENTS HAVE AFTER A LONG DAY OF WORK
I'm going to bed here and take a quick nap.
The list that Meredith writes is very similar to the one I go through my head before bed and sometimes makes me think that I still suffer from mummies. At home there are always things to do, and we are up to the last moment awake thinking about all the things that are needed or the things that we would like to do.
The contrast that exists between the way women think and how men think is real. And it's something we envy of them, that ability to disconnect and relax for a while without your mind going round and round like ours.
Meredith clarifies in a comment that this is precisely what her publication is about:
TRUTH: My husband is amazing. He washes the dishes after work, helps put the children in bed to sleep and works very hard with ME at the end of a long day, so I am more than happy that I can take a quick nap. This is more about the MENTAL burden that women carry and that men hardly have. It is not a claim to my husband, who is an amazing provider, husband and father.
No doubt that is something that I envy my husband, he can arrive and fall asleep easily, while I last a while awake lying in bed thinking about all the things to do at home, at work, with my Daughter and even my personal things.
Do you feel identified with Meredith's words?
