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(IMAGE) Work Cited:
Becker, Magdalena. “How 'Emotional Labor' Affects Women, Their Relationships.” The Temple News, 10 Mar. 2020, https://temple-news.com/how-emotional-labor-affects-women-their-relationships/

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(IMAGE) Work Cited:
Almendrala, Anna. “THIS Might Be Why You Get Stuck Doing All The Chores.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 30 Aug. 2016, www.huffpost.com/entry/chores-by-gender-women_n_57be3226e4b02673444e5a87.

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(IMAGE) Work Cited:
Bobrow, Emily, and Jonathan Blitzer. “‘Some Days I Feel Like I'm Melting’: How Single Mothers in New York City Are Coping with Quarantine.” The New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2020, www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/some-days-i-feel-like-im-melting-how-single-mothers-in-new-york-city-are-coping-with-quarantine.

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Throughout high school, I always found myself enjoying being involved in clubs, organizations, and other extracurricular activities, but I've never realized how much emotional labor that I went through. Being passionate and enjoying the things that I'm involved in, blindsided me from the emotional labor and the extra effort that I put in that actually is the reason for my burnout. Emotional labor is something that I feel that our society probably isn't aware of fully today and needs to be talked about more. For those that do not know, emotional labor is the labor that we go through emotionally whenever fulfilling the emotional requirements of a job.

In this source, TikTok by @emilybrucesky, she addresses the unpaid emotional labor that one can go through when trying to execute one's job. Emily talks about how normal it is for women to be more likely to fall into doing the emotional labor for people because "it's easier that way". She was also able to bring up her own experience with emotional labor and how it's basically managing one's own emotions to then also managing the emotions of the people around the individual as well.

I chose this source because Emily was able to bring up examples of emotional labor and how draining it can be for an individual. Emily talks about how the idea of "service with a smile" plays a huge part in the workplace, but is also emotional labor. She also is able to talk about how the way one presents their emotions in the workplace can discredit them for their work. For example, if one lets their feelings show while working, then the work one does becomes discredited and diminished.

I want you all to take a look at this TikTok video and listen to Emily share her point of view on emotional labor. Have you or are you going through emotional labor? Why do you think people put themselves through? I also would like for you all to take a look at the comment section as well as there are others sharing their point of view and opinions. I hope that you all are able to further understand the idea of emotional labor and how draining it can be for one in the workplace.

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Let’s talk about emotional labor #worklifebalance #emotional #labor #boundaries

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@emilybrucesky
Let’s talk about emotional labor #worklifebalance #emotional #labor #boundaries
♬ original sound - Emily

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Growing up with both my parents being involved in my life was definitely a huge blessing, but I've also seen through close friends and family what it's like to be a single parent. Seeing my aunt become a single mom definitely helped me view life and my family in a different life. Being able to see her juggle with all the homemaking, breadwinning, and kids all while barely holding herself together makes me wonder, how is it even possible for one to go through all that? I feel that the thought of single parenting isn't talked about much and all the single parents out there deserve so much more recognition! Not only do single parents go through the transition from raising their child with a partner to doing it on their own, but they also struggle emotionally and financially as well.

In this short article by Parenthood Times, the parenting magazine talks about the struggles of being a single mom. Parenthood Times is able to bring to light the struggles that single moms go through such as lack of support, finances, loneliness, anxiety, and etc. Not only does Parenthood Times talk about some of the struggles of being a single mom, the parenting magazine also provides ways to help and reduce the struggles of single parenting.

I chose this short article because it was able to address the struggles that single parents face, but also provide some reminders and tips on how to take care of yourself as a single parent. As this article was intended for single mothers, I feel that, as I was reading through it, these struggles apply to all the single fathers out there as well. I thought that this source was able to create a safe place for all the single parents out there and also has additional links and tabs for more tips on single parenting. Although I can't say I've been a child of a single parent or am a single parent, I can definitely sense all the heartbreak, stress, and anxiety that one goes through.

As you read through this short article, I want you to think about if all the struggles a single parent goes through, do you, as of now, go through that as well? (Whether you are a parent or not) Do you have a support system? Do you struggle with keeping up and organizing all your responsibilities? After reflecting on that, I want you all to picture yourself as a single parent, would you be able to do all the things in your daily life while raising a child? After reflecting and reading this article, I hope that you all are able to take away how much harder life is on single parents and the struggles that they face every day.

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No one plans on being a single mom when they get married. I also bet you didn't plan to raise your kids by yourself without a man until you became young adults either. But sometimes God laughs while we're making plans. Whether you've chosen single motherhood or found yourself raising a child alone unexpectedly, the struggles of being a single mom are inevitable.

The struggles of being a single mom can hit you hard, both financially and emotionally. How you handle some common single mom struggles will determine the quality of your experience and what you get to teach your kids. As writer Shonda Rhimes, author of Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person says -

"You just have to keep moving forward. You just have to keep doing something, seizing the next opportunity, staying open to trying something new. It doesn't have to fit your vision of the perfect job or the perfect life. Perfect is boring, and dreams are not real. Just . . . DO."

Struggles of Being a Single Mom

Being a single mom is hard. If you are a working single mom, it can bring added pressure and stress to the job of raising children alone. With no one to share your daily responsibilities or decision-making, you often feel guilty about leaving your kids in the morning. Becoming a single mother means you have to balance parenting, working, household responsibilities, and dating that more often end up disastrously.

Lack of Social Support

Life is indeed much harder for a single mom who has to navigate life without the many wonderful benefits that a two-parent household provides. In addition to the normal challenges, the single mom has to struggle with issues related to our society, as well as a lack of emotional support. The kids also suffer from emotional support and parental involvement because the mom is busy working and attending to her "new" lives.

The Single Mom Guilt

A mom's mind is a dangerous thing. It can overpower you with guilt and feelings of overwhelming responsibility to make everything perfect. As a mom, you often identify something you wish was different in your children's lives. It's entirely too easy to feel guilty and beat yourself up over the " What Ifs? ". You even carry that feeling at the back of your head whilst working. It does not end.

The Difficulty of Organizing Life

The challenge of organizing daily life as a single mom is a tough one. You often feel stressed and anxious about making all the decisions on your own. The domestic duties like preparing homemade meals, tidying up the house, and the likes, can put a lot of pressure on yourself. But then there's putting kids to school and providing them the resources to learn and grow up. Imagine not having the time and resources to give the kids worthwhile experiences: fishing, camping, coaching them with their sport, especially if you have a son. Life as a single mom is a pretty tough one.

Financial Stress and Anxiety

Being a single mom, you may also struggle financially. You may feel pressured to give your best to support your kids, ultimately you exhaust all your means of getting enough finances. If you have older children, you may also struggle with their spending habits.

The Feeling of Loneliness and Isolation

The juggling of all the things on your own can take its toll on you as a parent. The stress of raising a child alone can bring on loneliness and depression. And being fatherless can take an unfathomable toll on your kids as well. Being abandoned by their Dad at any age is a loss that just keeps hurting them throughout life.

Fear and Anxiety

Sometimes, you may feel constant fear: fear of failing as a mother, fear of your kid's safety, and the overuse of technology. You feel anxious when they're ill. You may also wonder when you should stop breastfeeding your kid and stuff like that.

Ways to Manage the Stress of Being a Single Mom?

It is the hardest in the initial stages, and imparting basic life skills to your children is crucial to making the journey easier. The following advice may help reduce stress as a single mom:

Take Care of Yourself

Most single moms have a tough time taking care of themselves. But there's so much at risk if you don't! You need proper sleep, time to relax, and exercise to stay healthy. You also need a good laugh and a good cry sometimes. Stress affects your body, mind, and spirit if you don't give yourself attention and self-care. Eventually, it will ruin your relationship with your kids.

Talk Early and Often

Let your children know about the changes in the family. Sit quietly with your children and allow them to talk about their feelings. Enroll your kids in doing yoga or meditation with you; get on bicycles together. Visit a park and walk under the trees.

Find Support and Use It

Life as a single mom is riddled with difficult moments. Don't try to handle everything alone. Reach out to other single moms that you may know. It is important to surround yourself with a support group of family and friends in both times of joy and distress. Your pediatrician can help you make a better choice when it comes to your child's well-being.

Slowly you will find your strength, determination, courage, and identity. And maybe single motherhood had to happen in order for these traits to surface. At some point, your child will tell you that you were the only parent she ever needed and that you gave her all the love and support she needed. You see her succeed - and guess what? You can take the full credit - you did it on your own. That is what you should focus on.

Life is never a picnic. You take the good with the bad. Enjoy your little one. You will both be just fine.

How to Survive and Thrive Financially as a Single Mom

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The Struggles of Being a Single Mom | Parenthood Times

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No one plans on being a single mom when they get married. I also bet you didn't plan to raise your kids by yourself without a man until you became young adults either. But sometimes God laughs while we're making plans.

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My siblings and I were raised in a household with two very traditional Vietnamese parents that very much liked the idea of following the gender norms. We also grew up in a household where my father was the breadwinner and my mother was the homemaker. Without having to explain any further, I bet you can already tell the kind of chores my sister and I were taught to do growing up versus the chores my brother was taught to do. Some of the things my mother insisted that I learned to do were cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, and knowing how to grocery shop. Whereas my father insisted my brother knows how to put together a shelf, fix the squeaky door, and do the yard work. It was very interesting for me to see that dynamic in my household play out and felt almost unfair in a sense to me.

In this article written by Francesca Donner from New York Times, Donner was able to talk about some of the chores around the house that men and women do and why. It's very interesting to see in our society today that "Men are more likely than ever to embrace the idea of gender equality, but when it comes to the home front, traditional values dominate" (Donner n.p.). This article also talks about how over the years, men are actually doing more housework than before now, but women seem to still be spending more time on housework than men do.

I chose this article because Donner was able to bring up to the surface the differences in the housework chores that the men and women of the house do. The article also emphasizes how the chores that men typically take over the chores that are more desirable. The only reason being is because those chores take place weekly or less often than the chores that women typically do, which are daily or occur several times a day. As a woman, it was definitely very frustrating having to admit, while reading through the article, how gendered housework chores are so unfair and gender conforming.

For this interactive portion, I would like you all to fill out this list of chores that I have listed below. Who does these chores? After filling out the list, I want you all to answer: Are you content with who does what chore or do you feel that it's unfair? Why or why not?

I.E. Cooking - Mother

- Cooking
- Building furniture
- Cleaning
- Picking up the kids
- Yard Work
- Paperwork

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The Household Work Men and Women Do, and Why (Published 2020)

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Men are more likely than ever to embrace the idea of gender equality, but when it comes to the home front, traditional values dominate.