Mutha Magazine: Article By Alison [exclusive]

Because that’s the thing about this load. It’s invisible. It’s unpaid. And somehow, it’s still the most important job I’ve ever done.

For a moment, I was jealous. And then I went inside and bought the oval crackers. mutha magazine article by alison

The other night, I couldn’t sleep. Not because the baby was crying—she’s four now, and sleeps like a tiny log. Not because of the news, though that’s plenty. No, I was awake because I was mentally rearranging the pantry. Because that’s the thing about this load

Around 2 a.m., I realized we were out of the oval-shaped crackers. Not the round ones—those are for school lunches. The ovals. The ones my toddler will actually eat without negotiating a trade deal. Then came the domino effect: if we’re out of ovals, I need to pack extra cheese sticks. If I pack extra cheese sticks, I need to buy more before Thursday, because Thursday is early dismissal and that means double snacks. Double snacks mean I’ll be late to work pickup, which means my boss will give me that look—the one that says, We’re very family-friendly, but also, please stop leaving at 4:47. And somehow, it’s still the most important job