Parenting Is a Job. During the Pandemic, It’s Impossible.

The pandemic has revealed something that parents have understood for a long time. Parenting is a job — more specifically, an extremely strenuous, unpaid, 24-7 job with no breaks, little supports, and no benefits. (Tanaphong Toochinda / Unsplash)

One of my all-time favorite comedy clips is a bit called “ People Without Children Have NO IDEA What It’s Like! ” by comedian Michael McIntyre. It’s cathartic for parents, and it should be mandatory education for adults who don’t have children. “You think you know what you’re talking about,” he painfully winces.

“YOU HAVE NO IDEA.” You have no idea how difficult things will become in your life. Things that you don’t even consider to be things will become nearly impossible when you have children. I’m talking about things like leaving the house, for example. This is how people without children leave the house: “Shall we leave the house?” “Yes.”

He then painfully itemizes the countless battles that must go on with children every. single. time. you attempt to leave the house. It’s real. Sleeping . . . hahahahaha. Sleeping at night ! This is how [it goes for] people without children, most nights: “Goodnight, darling.” “Goodnight.” Sometimes you go: […]

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