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Beyond the Bath Bomb: Realistic Mother's Day Gifts
Plus: Recognizing the Invisible Work Moms Do
Lakshmi Jayanthi
April 23, 2024
Hello and welcome to The Parenting Pitch by Pickup Sports!
The Parenting Pitch is a newsletter for laid-back parents navigating the elementary and middle school years. Enjoy doses of humor, easygoing advice, and simple hacks to help your children grow, learn, and thrive—without the stress.
In Today’s Edition:
🎁 Mothers Day: The Gifts That Moms Really Want
🦸🏽♀️ Sharing the Load: Recognizing the Invisible Work Moms Do
🏆 Beyond the Bath Bomb: Realistic Mother's Day Gifts
It’s coming up soon on May 12th! That time of year when moms (sort of) get the day off, and dads and kids scramble to find the perfect way to pamper her. I don’t know about you, but as a mom of young kids, all I really want is the gift of getting some time back!
👉🏽 Like what’s the point of a bath bomb and a robe if I never have time for this luxurious bath? 🛀🏽And when I’m in the bath, am I really relaxing or thinking about how I forgot to save the school family fun run in our calendar?
👉🏽 If you’re going to give us a bath bomb, then find us some time to use it by taking care of so many other things that load up our to-do lists!
✨With that, I’m here to help your loved ones by curating a list of realistic gifts we (moms) actually want on Mother’s Day…
[note - want us to subtly forward this list to a significant other? Reply back! 😉]
Help Organize and Declutter
 | This gift screams “we care!” Gift Mom precious minutes (and her sanity) by taking the time, rolling up your sleeves and tackling the tangled tech mess in your home. This Cable Organizer isn’t just a box, it’s a time-saving contraption. She will love the new system and the peace it brings to your home. You're welcome! |
Clean Up!
Level-up your gift-giving game with a Robot Mop. This whiz-bang robot zips around the house leaving spotless floors. Let it do the dirty work while freeing up mom’s time to do, well, anything other than cleaning up after all of you! |  |
Check off her to-do list by taking care of all the gifts!
 | Simple yet she’ll be impressed! Become her Personal Gift Concierge. The school year is ending soon which means endless “to-give” gift lists for teachers, tutors, coaches, you name it, that moms typically take care of. Make a list of recipients > buy gift cards > pop them in cute cards (signed by the kids!) > and keep them ready! |
Snarky Gifts That Show Her You Understand
In today's scoop, we're talking about the not-so-balanced split of household responsibilities. Turns out, research sheds light on the unequal distribution of what's dubbed “invisible work.” Think mental planning, emotional management, and always being one step ahead. Even in partnerships where we aim for fairness, moms often find themselves carrying a heavier load. It's no wonder we sometimes feel overwhelmed and under-supported!
I mean, have you seen the Fair Play documentary? 🤯
Sharing the Load: Practical Tips for Couples
By acknowledging the extra work often done by women, couples can work together to achieve a fairer distribution of tasks. Here are some tips inspired by the latest research:
Open Communication is Key:
Schedule "Check-Ins": Dedicate a regular time to discuss household responsibilities and invisible burdens. Be honest about your feelings and how the current division of labor impacts you.
End-to-End Planning: Discuss tasks "end-to-end," meaning including the planning and mental load alongside the physical action. This ensures
everyone understands the full scope of each responsibility.
Awareness & Appreciation: Increase awareness of the invisible load by explicitly stating the planning involved in each task. Acknowledge and appreciate the effort put into both physical and mental labor by your partner.
Building New Habits:
Shared Planning Systems: Create shared calendars, to-do lists, or apps to organize and schedule tasks together. This fosters transparency and reduces the burden of someone having to remember everything.
Shifting the Mindset: Challenge traditional gender roles within your relationship. Discuss and agree upon a division of labor that feels fair and balanced for both of you.
Trial and Error: Be willing to experiment and find what works best for your family. There will likely be some initial adjustments, but the long-term benefits are worth it.
This Week’s Poll
What's your biggest challenge when it comes to delegating home tasks?-> Vote to reveal what other moms think. We will share responses next time!. |
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