Who clips the nails? (Part I. Survey results)

Thumbnail image for Who clips the nails? (Part I. Survey results) July 14, 2010

This is the first of a series of posts about how working couples share the under-the-radar tasks that, taken together, represent the “psychic burden” of parenting. Even though studies show fathers are changing more diapers and folding more laundry than ever, mothers are still bearing most of the “psychic burden” of parenting—the scheduling, organizing, and [...]

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Something rotten…except in the state of Denmark

July 12, 2010

Several of my friends have been talking about a story that appeared earlier this month in New York Magazine called “All Joy and No Fun: Why Parents Hate Parenting.” Do parents hate parenting? According to the story, studies show that Parents are as happy or less happy than their non-parent counterparts everywhere except Denmark. Mothers [...]

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Happy campers

Thumbnail image for Happy campers July 5, 2010

A family vacation sounds good in theory, but in practice it has three things going against it. Traveling with young kids is 1. expensive 2. not relaxing 3. requires cleaning, shopping, packing, unpacking, repacking, and unpacking again. And cleaning. Which is why we haven’t taken a trip with all three kids since our youngest was [...]

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Unplugging this week

Thumbnail image for Unplugging this week June 29, 2010

I’m taking this week off to be with the family. Looking forward to birds, trees, mountains, uncomfortable sleeping conditions, starry nights, and no cell phone reception. If you’re looking for inspiration to unplug for a few days (or longer!), check out these New York Times stories: “Hooked on Gadgets and Paying a Mental Price” (6/6/10) [...]

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Working mom video game

June 27, 2010

A blog reader sent me a link to this short video. (Thank you, Donna!) I won’t try to describe it–it speaks for itself. Girls suck at video games / Les filles sont nulles aux jeux vidéo from Stéphanie Mercier on Vimeo.

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This sucks (Part III.)

June 24, 2010

This is the third of a three-part series of posts about working moms and breastfeeding. Be sure to read Part I. and Part II. first. After a thorough review of the office landscape, Jackie mentioned to her boss that there was no convenient place to pump. She suggested the most reasonable solution she could think [...]

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This sucks (Part II.)

June 23, 2010

This is the second of a series of posts about working moms and breastfeeding. If you have not read Part I., start here. My friend, Jackie* has worked for almost a decade for a large, well-respected non-profit in the Denver area. As you read her story, please keep in mind that she works in a [...]

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This sucks (Part I.)

June 21, 2010

This is the first of a series of posts about working moms and breastfeeding. I went back to work when my son was four months old and still living exclusively on a diet of breast milk. So approximately every three hours I dropped what I was doing and ducked into Conference Room B. All four [...]

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Survey: Who clips their nails?

Thumbnail image for Survey: Who clips their nails? June 14, 2010

Studies show today’s fathers are doing significantly more child care and housework than their fathers did. Here’s my question: Are these dads just folding more laundry, or are they also taking responsibility for the complicated logistics of family life? And here’s my other question: Do heterosexual couples divide up chores differently than gay and lesbian [...]

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Sweat, eat, sleep

Thumbnail image for Sweat, eat, sleep June 9, 2010

I started working again this spring (the subject of a future blog post) and almost immediately found myself in a perfect storm of sick kids, tight deadlines, and lack of sleep.  It was shockingly familiar. I did what I usually do when it feels like the world is ending. I called my baby sister, Holly. [...]

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