It's a fiery topic to be sure (see what I just did there, referencing the above pic?) One of my friends Laura and I discussed this a while back, and it was brought up again in a conversation I had with my boss: I'm talking about the issue of new parents, where one works and the other stays home, but BOTH feel like they deserve a break at the end of the day.
Some of you live this existence, while others can probably understand/appreciate it:
Parent A is at home all day long with a screaming baby, with no adult interaction other than the Wiggles on TV (which doesn't count.) By the time parent B comes home, A is ready for a break from the kid and says 'Oh good, B is home.'
On the opposite side, parent B has had a long day and is stressed and tired from preparing TPS reports at work all day. By the time they get home, they're excited about having time to decompress and relax.
This is where they butt heads. Who deserves to exhale? Who gets to rest? How can this issue be solved? Without ever having been in this situation, I imagine the answer is simple: being a parent means you NEVER get a break. No matter which parent you are.
The parent that stays home deserves a break! There is nothing harder than staying at home. You never, EVER have a break. There is a person attached to you at all times. You have to be "on" all day. At least at work you can zone out in your office for a minute or go to the bathroom by yourself (I have heard going to the bathroom by yourself is impossible with a toddler). Maternity leave was nice, but it was the hardest thing I ever had to do. Work is easy in comparison.
ReplyDeleteInteresting take, Meimi, esp as someone who has experienced it from both sides.
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