You've listed the inevitable results from numerous failures due to poor choices. Trying to keep up with the Joneses type stuff.
And you still listed divides that shouldn't exist.
Like, you'd only be fixing the bike once (or fewer) if the first time you taught your kid to fix their own bike and use the kickstand.
That's a choice.
You wouldn't be running by the pharmacy several times if you organized it down to one trip, prioritized the family health so you're not getting sick as often, etc.
We can all start making choices to get off the hamster wheel.
Big part of that is ditching gender and age expectations.
It doesn't kill kids to expect them to help out and pitch in. And not busy work "chores" either. Real responsibilities. Real jobs (not employment, talking about at home).
You end up chasing and reacting to life's stresses when you fail to prioritize, communicate, and act proactively.
Example. Urchling and I are saving up to buy some land. We've set a goal to save $25K this year. Part of that is me taking OT when it's offered.
That puts stress on me if we can't rebalance house flow. That means failure.
I've worked 12 hrs every day this week.
My lunch has been packed for me, my clothes laid out, household tasks I usually take care of are done when I get home, Urchling has done some grocery shopping and taken over one time of walking the dog. My allowance was increased in case I need a pick me up. I could go on.
I didn't have to say a thing. I didn't have to beg and plead. You'd think the house was infeasted with helpful gremlins or house elves.
Even the dog let me sleep 30 min longer than usual before snuffing at me to take her for her morning walk.
The point is, by thinking about the needs of all, the household, instead of who's responsibility is who's based on things like gender or who usually does them or whatever, my taking OT didn't create a void or a vacuum for problems to develop or things to fall behind, get missed, whatever.
It's a minor shift in thinking that literally changes everything.
