A card from Fair Play by Eve Rodsky
Meals (Weekday Breakfast)
One mom we spoke to lamented that she’s held this card every single day since her kids were old enough to eat solids. Every. Single. Day. Prepare to frequently re-deal full CPE of this nonnegotiable Daily Grind unless serving oatmeal and toast at breakneck speed is your jam. Dishes left in the sink and milk spilled on the counter isn’t “on you” unless you hold the “dishes” and “tidying” cards. Still, be respectful before you zoom out the door.
Holding this card means owning all three
Conception
Your family needs to eat breakfast
Planning
- Menu planning/recipe selection
- Making lists of items needed (give to “Groceries” cardholder with appropriate amount of time or purchase yourself)
Execution
- Cooking/preparing
- Serving
- Putting dishes in sink for “Dishes” cardholder
Suggested Minimum Standard of Care
Is your family fed a reasonably nutritious meal during the appropriate time window for each meal?
A starting point. You and your partner agree the real standard together, and the holder meets it without reminders.
Holding it well
- It’s a Daily Grind: relentless and time-bound. Make sure each of you holds a fair share of these, ideally one from each suit.
- The holder owns all of it: noticing, planning and doing. No “just tell me what to do.”
- Agree the Minimum Standard of Care together, then let the holder meet it their way.
- Not working? Bring it to the weekly check-in and re-deal it. Don’t take it back mid-week.
Put this card on your table
Deal it, agree its standard, and see who holds what. Free.