Labor Day is more than one last flip on the grill or flop on the belly. Since 1894, it has officially heralded “the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.” Which is all fine and good and necessary, especially as it adapts to what our culture’s idea of work has evolved to be.
This is the gig economy, replete with social media influencers and side-hustlers, startup-starters and remote commuters, whose mobile offices are leveling what’s left of the barrier between work and life.
We’re also re-evaluating the suddenly more tangible value of unpaid care work, which still disproportionately falls on women and thus impedes to overall effort to achieve more gender-neutral evaluations of career and caregiving. The rise in the population of (and esteem for) stay-at-home fathers (despite the resilient challenges) are changing the face of the workforce forever, and we’ll continue to address that deeply and directly at our next Summit in February.
However the labor is distributed in your family, we hope this Long Weekend retains as much of the old definition as possible. The best parenthood relies on self-care, which means releasing yourself from whatever labors you can, and distributing the labors you can’t as evenly as possible. So we can all be equally overjoyed and overwhelmed together.
IN THE NEWS
Research suggests the “No. 1 thing that helps children (especially boys) grow up to have enriching friendships is to be close with an adult relative who was not afraid to express emotions.”
For many parents, personal experience and childhood memories can make their kid’s transition to middle or high school feel unsettling.
What is the difference between children bullying and showing aggressive behavior that is developmentally appropriate?
“When we try to fix everything for our children, they don’t learn how to work through their problems.”
“The role of your parenting evolves over time.”
“It’s something different when you first see your child. I can’t even explain the feeling. It definitely motivated me. At the end of the day, I have to take care of another life. She’s a part of me.”
Does your family throw budget parties?
Teaching your child sign language? Here are some great tips (and signs).
Does your child stand up for others? Empathy and courage can go a long way.
PORCHLIGHT POSTS
- “I’m sharing my story because I know that I am not the only one who has gone through or will go through a period in their life like this.” – Brandon Billinger; The Reality of Parenting with Depression
- “The fear is that you get married and have kids and then it becomes really boring—and I don’t think that’s healthy for the kids, at all.” – Ed Stafford; Fatherhood Won’t Stop Adventurer Ed’s Madcap Missions
- “I have a complicated relationship with my body. Mine has too much fat, too much hair, too many aches and pains and general creaks.” – Chris Farley Ratcliffe; How I Learned to Love My Body
- “I’ve never felt as comfortable in my body as I do now. At 40, parenting a ten year-old, that is a special gift for both of us.” – Casey Brown; I’m a Transgender Parent in Trump’s America. This is What It’s Like
- “My dear sweet, lover, mother to our child, biggest fan, partner in crime and beautiful love in my life has gained her wings.” – Rob Ainbinder; Safety Dance, Transitioning Care, an Ending and New Beginning
‘GRAM OF THE WEEK
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