Divide up the Labor of the Holiday Season With This Simple Chart
When the mental load is unbalanced, everyone’s less happy. Use this list to make sure that doesn’t apply to you.
It’s coming up on that time of year again: The sprint of lavish meals, family traditions, charitable gestures, sparkly decorations, just-right gifts, religious rituals, and neighborhood cookie swaps that transform the year-end darkness into a cozy, glittering time of good cheer. But put down that mulled wine for a minute and consider: Exactly who makes all that holiday happiness happen? (No, it’s not Santa.)
For me, it began early this November. My family was invited to spend Thanksgiving with friends, and it quickly became obvious that I and the other mother would be doing all the planning for the festive meal. I volunteered for green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and stuffing, and almost immediately grew overwhelmed at all I’d have to do. Thanksgiving comes at the tail end of a work week. When would I have time to find recipes, write a shopping list, and go to the store, let alone get the actual cooking done?
I added these items to my running mental list of tasks, but I didn’t think to bring them up with my husband, who, in turn, didn’t think to inquire what we were bringing.
