Getting More Help At Home: Tune In

Moms wear countless hats. One, donned somewhat reluctantly, is that of the Bedtime Enforcer. Whether we like it or not, moms are often charged with putting kids to bed and helping them sleep. We read the sleep books, we agonize over kids nighttime tears, we trudge into their bedrooms in the wee hours, and we fret when they can’t seem to nod off.

That’s because for many families, if not most, mom is the Primary Parent. The go-to gal. The one who finds everything, fixes boo-boos, and warbles off-key (in my case, anyway) lullabies every night.

But that is changing—slowly, but surely. In this month’s feature story for ParentMap magazine, I explore a trend called Equally Shared Parenting, in which parents split childcare duties equitably, if not equally. Yes, that includes bedtime and midnight feedings (take note, tired moms).

The article is called Shared Parenting: Why Modern Families Are Choosing Equality, and the research was refreshing. The equally-sharing moms I spoke to for this piece not only get to sleep all night long while hubby gets up with the kiddos—at least, every other night—they also have enough energy to enjoy their families and pursue fulfilling careers.

Sound good? I think so, too. If you’d like to learn more about creating more equality at home, tune in for my Parent to Parent segment on tomorrow’s King 5 News. I’ll share what makes equally shared parenting so challenging, why parnterships tend to become inequal over time, and tips for making it work in your home.