A card from Fair Play by Eve Rodsky
Welcoming A Child Into The Home
Never mind how often you’re puking and falling asleep on the couch by 6 p.m. Preparing for a baby increases your mental, physical, and emotional load exponentially. While you’re going to constant doctors’ appointments, registering for baby products that you never even knew existed (a Boppy pillow?) or that you would need (Nursing bras?), and listening to unwanted parenting advice from every other woman shopping in the baby basics aisle, ask your more hormonally balanced partner to take some additional cards. Ask him to hold on to them while you’re in labor because, um, you’re in labor. And while he’s at it, he may just as well hold on to them while you recover from giving birth.
How Wild cards work
The Wild suit includes life-changing scenarios that rock your world, and come with a mind-numbing amount of invisible work. When you’re dealt a Wild card (hopefully temporarily), you’re entitled to ask for additional help from your partner guilt-free. Your partner is encouraged to reach out to your village for even more support, but the Wild cardholder is not the one who handles this delegation. You and your partner are also encouraged to remove cards from your deck, temporarily, while dealing with a Wild card.
Suggested Minimum Standard of Care
Do you feel supported to take the lead on this wildcard? Will your partner be stepping up to take on other cards?
A starting point. You and your partner agree the real standard together, and the holder meets it without reminders.
Holding it well
- Whoever is dealt this card can ask for more help, guilt-free.
- Their partner picks up other cards and reaches out to the wider village.
- Set non-essential cards aside temporarily, and re-deal at your next check-in.
Further reading
Put this card on your table
Deal it, agree its standard, and see who holds what. Free.