By Cheryl Mattox Berry
The Day Without a Woman protest reminded me of what I did when feeling unappreciated and ignored by my family. I staged a Mom Strike.
I printed large “On Strike” signs in bold letters and posted them on every surface in the kitchen and laundry room, and on my bedroom door.
Infractions that led to a strike:
- Dirty dishes in the sink
- Failure to do chores
- Messy bedrooms and bathrooms
The kids thought it was funny the first time I went on strike. My daughter was 9 and my son, 13. When they asked why, I explained that I had enough to do and didn’t want to pick up after their lazy butts.
Although we had outside help, I wanted to teach them a sense of responsibility and how to keep a room neat and clean. Also, I didn’t want their college roommates to complain about them.
The strike lasted one day, usually a Saturday. I didn’t have to do it often – maybe twice a year. I knew that it was time for a strike when I found myself constantly reminding everyone to do something.
My husband (dirty dishes in sink) took my work stoppage seriously because I didn’t cook, wash clothes or chauffeur the children to their activities, and that meant he had to take up the slack.
For me, being on strike was like a vacation day. I lounged in my bedroom, read magazines, went to a foreign movie and hit the malls – by myself. The fact that I didn’t want their company made everyone feel really bad about their behavior.
Things ran smoothly after my strike. The kids would remind each other and their dad when they were violating the rules.
Mothers work hard – inside and outside the home. They should be cherished for the little things and big things they do to make every day run smoothly. If you’re not getting the respect you deserve from your family, take a day off. Trust me, they’ll appreciate you more after the strike is over.