Parenting
By Jenna Roberts
I vividly remember munching on cheesy puffs after school while a commercial for a popular fragrance played on TV. It was the ‘80s, and I loved being a girl, but that ad? Not so much. The woman in it, flaunting her perfect hair and singing about doing it all, seemed absurd to me. She was cooking dinner, getting the kids ready for bed, and then, as a final touch before pleasing her partner, she spritzed on some perfume while donning a silky outfit.
My immediate thought was: Where was her partner during all this chaos?
Even as a child, I questioned why she seemed so thrilled about her life. It looked exhausting, and I couldn’t fathom when she got to enjoy herself.
Don’t get me wrong—I believe in women’s power. If your goal is to be a 24/7 superwoman, then go for it. But that’s not my style. I have limits, and I refuse to spend my life running around trying to keep everyone else happy around the clock. That’s just not my role.
Can we bring home the bacon? Absolutely! Women work just as hard (if not harder) than men, yet often earn 55 to 79 cents for every dollar a man makes, depending on various factors.
Can we cook it up when we get home? You bet! I can whip up a meal like a pro, but I prefer to do that only occasionally—55% to 79% of the time seems fair.
Some nights, I put my feet up and order takeout. Other times, we have “whatever” night, which lets everyone rummage for their own meal, and honestly, that makes us all happy, especially me.
When it comes to parenting, I can handle it all, but if there’s going to be any energy left for my partner later, I need help—preferably two hands. My husband is a parent too. It’s not just me “getting help” or him “babysitting.” We share responsibilities because we chose to have kids together.
I’ve tried to be that woman who does it all, but it comes with resentment and a side of “I don’t want to live like this.” So, I stopped trying because I realized I value my happiness too. I’d rather not be asked, “How do you do it all?” when the answer is self-neglect. Just because you can be a 24/7 woman doesn’t mean you have to be.
This commercial may be decades old, but the pressure on women remains. I still see women striving to fulfill impossible standards—looking perfect, having dream careers, immaculate homes, and kids excelling in everything. But here’s the reality: that woman doesn’t exist.
We all know that trying to juggle everything leads to burnout. When we can’t keep up, we feel inadequate and drained. Many of us are struggling with this, and it’s not just you—it’s the unrealistic expectations we place on ourselves to be those perfect, manufactured figures.
We can excel at a few things, but attempting to do it all leads to chaos, both in our lives and for ourselves. If women crumble, we all know society will face serious consequences.
So let’s step back and recognize our limits. It’s okay to not be available 24/7. For resources on pregnancy and home insemination, check out this excellent source or discover CryoBaby’s at-home kits for self-insemination. For further information, see our terms and conditions.
In summary, we need to acknowledge that trying to be everything to everyone is unrealistic and detrimental. It’s essential to focus on our well-being and know that it’s okay to set boundaries.