Women: mothers, sisters, aunties, and grandmothers. Here is your ‘not to do list’ this silly season.

I’ve always wondered what would happen if the list went more like this:

NOT to do today/this week:

1. Don’t Book tickets for the holiday
2. Don’t  Find a holiday house/book a camping spot
3. Don’t  Find a house sitter/cat feeder
4. Don’t  Arrange a friend’s house to stay at
5. Don’t  Think about what presents other people may like
6. Don’t  Play Father Christmas
   
7. Don’t  Think about Christmas dinner/food
8. Don’t Pick up the prescriptions
9. Don’t Buy any sunscreen or insect repellent
10. Don’t Drop the library books back
11. Don’t Remember who is gluten-free and who has a nut allergy
12. Don’t Get the teacher a present
13. Don’t Send Christmas cards/emails
14. Don’t Be kind and considerate
15. Don’t Think of others
16. Don’t Drive yourself batty
17. Don’t Run around after everyone else
18. Don’t Be taken for granted
19. Don’t GIVE A SHIT
20. but actually, DO GIVE A SHIT
21. DO push back against the patriarchy this silly season.
22. And don’t listen to me either – pretty sure women are tired of being told what to do. And because ya’ll can do what you like. But let’s not take each other for granted by assuming certain behaviours from each other, or certain roles to be played this Christmas – based on gender.
23. Doesn’t the word don’t look odd now.

It is not a women’s job. We are not natural at it. We don’t necessarily ‘like it’. Social conditioning is a thing.

Women (girls) are taught to run events and functions, and men (boys) are taught to enjoy them. Christmas is no exception. Christmas is the peak. Sure, everyone needs to chill out more on Christmas. To slow down, pull back on the consumerism, and to just have fun times with friends and family. But everyone has to eat, and everyone has to get together in the first place – and those things require careful, considered planning. Logistics are hard work.

Emotional labour and home-based work is for everyone. See, aren’t women sharing and caring?

Men and women can do anything and everything. And in case the load isn’t evenly shared in your household on the big day: When push comes to shove, just step outside with all the other women in the house. Have a chat, have a smoke (if you do), have a beer (if you do). Or just take long and deep breaths. See what happens.

And if you are an active man in the lead up to, and on Christmas Day – every year. Keep up the good work and spread the good gospel.

Merry-Cynical-Christmas from Flip That Script.

Can someone please get this for me. I will wear it year round.