Lately, I've noticed that there's been a lot of talk about how women are the ones holding up our society. This includes being responsible for childcare (often leading them to leave their jobs), eldercare, as well as the planning and management of the household, which includes handling bills, finances, food, healthcare, cooking and cleaning. I highly recommend listening to the podcast at the link below. It dives into the how we got here, hear from real women struggling with this, and how some states are helping.

www.wbur.org

Other countries have social safety nets. The U.S. has women. In the new book "Holding it Together: How Women Became America's Safety Net," sociologist Jessica Calarco says it’s time that changed.

Our time is valuable, and it's clear that the tasks one woman does in a household could be done through paid work such as babysitting/daycare, house cleaning, laundry services, Instacart, and personal assistance. Much of this work goes unseen (invisible labor) and isn't tied to benefits. I'm glad to see these conversations taking place because, let's face it, we do a lot!

However, with these responsibilities come anxiety, stress, burnout, loss of sleep, overworking, and a lack of time to heal and care for ourselves. I'd like to delve deeper into the trauma that comes from this, as it truly represents a heavy burden and a traumatic experience.

I'm curious to know about your experiences. How has this cultural dynamic affected your health (mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual), your time, your goals, and your career? What would you like to see to help you cope, heal, and thrive?

Remember, this is a safe place to voice your thoughts, vent, and share experiences, as well as resources and tools to help each other move towards coping, healing, and thriving.