This week I’ve been working on an article about how pandemic working conditions have affected women. How they’ve left their jobs in droves because they were already maxed out, and the pandemic added more work—caregiving, household, unpaid work. More for everyone, but especially more for women.
I’ve been researching and interviewing.
This week, also, I’ve scheduled vaccinations, helped with homework, talked to teachers, scheduled a tutoring session, purchased groceries, made meals, spent 2 hours on the phone with the insurance provider, scheduled a dental appointment, texted other parents about playdates, dropped one child off early for school for a singing club, picked up another child early from school because of a fever, and spent one evening chauffering a child back and forth for a Girl Scout meeting.
Before the week is out, I will add a parent-teacher conference, therapy session, psychiatrist appointment, chiropractor visit, Valentine’s Day card purchases for the class party, and visit to the phone repair shop to the list of things I’ve done as a parent.
I’m doing the research, but I don’t need to do the research. I am the research. This stuff of life is continual, ongoing, and all too often it goes unseen and unnoticed until it doesn’t get done.
Also if I didn’t respond to your text or email, this is probably why.
How is this shit about the weaker sex still even in circulation?
Anyway, it’s pizza for dinner tonight.
That first line tho. WHY IS IT SO HARD.