January 16, 2025

The latest in parenting news, tips, and trends:

How a new survey confirms what we all know: Moms carry the mental load. The surprising part? What dads think they’re doing.

Why the winter blues hits moms so hard, and four therapist-approved tactics to get out of the funk. Number 4 is key. 

This dad’s viral response to his daughter after she said her mom does “less work” than him. Bravo, sir. 

Why the “sandwich generation” is drowning in logistical, financial, and emotional stress — while moms quietly pick up the slack. Raise your hand if you’re barely keeping it together.

How one mom gets her kids to pitch in without having to assign chores. Meet: The “notice and do” method.

We have thoughts. We’re ranking tasks that moms typically do (that go relatively unseen by their partners) from 0-10. No science, just snark.   

They’re (mostly) aware

1/10: Buying birthday presents for all the parties your kid(s) go to: This is, of course, after you’ve RSVPed, submitted the lunch order, and signed the “we’re not liable if they break a leg” waiver.

3/10: Packing for any, and all, travel: Because packing for yourself isn’t fun enough — now you can pack for your kids, too. Cue the 800-item checklist. Odds are you’ll forget to pack things for yourself because, you know, motherhood. 

If they know, they don’t know they know

4/10 Knowing where things are: Winter hats? Favorite toy? Vanishing Tylenol? Somehow, you’re the only one with the magical ability to locate things. The superpower you didn’t ask for.

They have no idea this is a thing

6/10: Researching camp, daycares… basically everything: Not us spending 15 hours on Google, reading reviews, making spreadsheets, and talking to every parent we know.

8/10: Ordering kids’ clothes: You’re the reason they’re ready for swim lessons, snow days, or life in general. And let’s not get started on how we keep up with their sizes.

Last week, we asked you to vote on a question to answer. The winner was:

How can I teach my kids to share household responsibilities and pitch in?

FEATURED EXPERT:

Rebecca Parlakian

Senior Director of Programs at Zero to Three 

“Every family member can make a contribution, appropriate to their age, starting at about age 2,” says Parlakian. The key is weaving household tasks into everyday interactions. Here’s your game plan:

• Describe and model: Say what you’re doing and show them how to do the task. You can point out: “I see some socks here on the floor. When we take our clothes off, they go in the laundry basket so they can get washed. I’m going to pick these up and put them in the basket.”

• Make it fun: A boring chore for you might be exciting to them. “For example, putting laundry in the basket can turn into laundry ball, where you are shooting for three-pointers with socks or T-shirts,” says Parlakian.

• Expect imperfection: Your 3-year-old will not start out folding clothes like Marie Kondo. Teach, model, and let them practice without expecting perfection.

• Show gratitude: Notice their efforts, thank them, and point out why it’s important. Parlakian suggests saying: “You put the books away on the shelf. Now it’s easier to choose one. Would you like me to read to you?” 

Bonus tip: Out of ideas for toddler tasks? Parlakian has you covered. Let them help you make the bed, clean up spills, and hang up their jackets. Kids could also rake leaves, toss plastic into the recycling bin, water plants, or even help wash the car. The key is to let them have a variety of tasks to show that everyone pitches in to keep the household running.

Meet Your New Personal Assistant 

Hi, Claudia here 👋🏼. Ever wished you could clone yourself to check off all the things on your to-do list? Same. While we’re still waiting on that technology, Duckbill is the next best thing. It’s a platform powered by humans and AI to manage and complete your tasks. You can use it to schedule a doctor’s appointment, receive weekly recipe ideas (plus make a grocery list and then order them online), plan a birthday party, or find a sleep consultant near you. 

I’ve used Duckbill to schedule my son’s haircut, get an appointment with an in-network eye doctor, and help me find family-friendly beach clubs for an upcoming vacation. Since you can chat with a real human, you can give them specific instructions or ask them to keep looking if you want more options.

Sound like a dream? Use the code THESKIMM to skip the waitlist and get 50% off your first two months.

A Community That Gets You

Skimm+ connects you to a like-minded community of women tackling life’s challenges together. With expert advice, practical tools, and exclusive perks, it’s your secret weapon for smarter decisions—for you and your family.