Sharing the Domestic Load
Stephanie F.
Founder & CEO of Hello Nanny! | Revolutionizing Household Staffing Nationwide with Transparency, Fixed Fees & Smart Hiring Solutions
Dissolution of Traditional Roles
The reality is that many households are dual-income earners. Traditional roles are dissolving, and the push for sharing the mental and domestic load is becoming increasingly more prominent.
Parenting is tough. Co-parenting is tough. Doing both, AND juggling your career, seems impossible at times. Domestic responsibilities such as preparing meals, cleaning the house, and caring for the kids can often become overwhelming for working parents. However, sharing these tasks with your partner can significantly reduce stress and create a more balanced and happy home life. In this blog, we’ll discuss a few ways parents can make a system to share domestic responsibilities.
Identify the Tasks
The first step to sharing domestic responsibilities is identifying the tasks that need to be done. This can include cooking meals, doing laundry, cleaning the house, grocery shopping, and taking care of children. Make a list of all the necessary tasks and categorize them according to daily, weekly, and monthly duties.
Determine Your Availability
Once you have identified the tasks, determine your and your partner's availability. Consider work schedules, family time, and personal commitments. This information will help you allocate responsibilities more effectively.
Split the Tasks
Now that you know what needs to be done and when you’re available, it’s time to divide the tasks. Split the responsibilities equally, considering each person's strengths and preferences. For instance, if you enjoy cooking but don’t enjoy ironing clothes, divide the chores based on that. It’s important to communicate openly and respectfully to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts.
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Create a Checklist
Creating a checklist for each task can help ensure that nothing is missed. For example, if the task is to prepare dinner, make a list of ingredients, cooking instructions, and serving recommendations. This way, both partners can easily handle the task without relying on the other person. One partner can do the grocery shopping while the other does the cooking. As for dishes, you can rock paper scissors over who does that. Or, if you're like me with a teenager, you delegate the chore. Ha!
Put the Plan Into Action
Now that you’ve identified the tasks, determined availability, split the tasks, and created a checklist, it’s time to put the plan into action. Start with a trial period to evaluate the effectiveness and make changes if necessary. Encourage your partner to give feedback and communicate what’s working and what’s not. Whoever's chicken tastes like rubber probably isn't best suited for the cooking role. Maybe leave the grocery shopping to them.
Sharing domestic responsibilities can make life easier and more enjoyable for parents. A clear plan and system will minimize stress, reduce conflicts, and create a more peaceful home environment. So, take the time to follow these steps and start sharing responsibilities with your partner today!
Don't Forget Quality Time
It's no secret that children change the dynamic of a relationship and leave parents to divide and conquer daily. Be intentional about dating and taking time for one another. If you are like many families that have relocated to an area with very little support, you can hire your village using a nanny agency like Hello, Nanny!
Whether for a date night sitter, a household manager, or a nanny, many families leverage their support through an agency like Hello, Nanny! where they can delegate hiring to professionals.
Practice Self Care
As always, remember to build in time for your health. Whole food nutrition and fitness are crucial for mental health and energy. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Even better if you and your partner can work out together, and, for the single parents taking on the entire load, find a friend and accountability partner. Just like your vehicle requires maintenance, so do our bodies. If you go long enough without an oil change, it, too will break down.