Hey Reader!

Hope your July has been a beauty. Can't believe we're almost midway through summertime.

Believe it or not, this was one of my first email drafts last summer when I launched Rebecca Joy.

It never made it out the gate into inboxes

(but it did end up on social).

I reposted again a few days ago because I truly believe the reason maternal bias is so entrenched in the workplace and in hiring practice is because

we've been conditioned to minimize the work.

If you're not on social or missed it, this one's for you:

If you’ve never planned a beach day (or day trip) with kids: KEEP READING ... 🏖
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We’ve been conditioned to think that the logistics involved in a family outing, like a beach day for example,
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is just part of being a mom / dad / parent.
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As though there’s nothing to it.
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Like no skills.
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Nothing necessarily employable.
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We’ve been conditioned to minimize the work.
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Reality:
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➡️Grocery shopping yesterday for beach lunch
➡️Make sure towels and bathing suits are washed / wearable
➡️Budget for ridiculously-priced ice cream
➡️Plan for said ice cream to get all over every square inch of each child (aka ensure baby wipes are available in large quantities if beach water isn’t accessible in the moment)
➡️Change of clothes for everyone
➡️Make lunch ahead of time
➡️Make sure ice packs are in freezer night before
➡️Ensure heathy items are included to balance ice cream sugar high
➡️Pack food in cooler
➡️Sunscreen
➡️Hats
➡️Sunglasses
➡️Appropriate footwear
➡️Buckets, shovels, etc.
➡️Big beach blanket
➡️[adds beach umbrella to wishlist on Amazon / yes it’s been a year and we still don’t have one]
➡️First aid kit
➡️Cash
➡️Pack all of the above in stroller
➡️Take public transit
➡️Drive and find parking within walking distance
➡️Plan / prepare for possible skipped nap — crankiness, bedtime adjustment
➡️Plan for bath night & shower night to get sand off
➡️Make sure we leave the beach to catch transit (or avoid traffic) to return in time for said baths x4
➡️Laundry (decide: today or tomorrow)
➡️Don’t bring a book to the beach #becausekids
➡️Don’t forget snacks
➡️Fill up water bottles x4
➡️Bring extra water if we can
➡️Prepare for heat, crankiness, hunger, unexpected pee/poop runs… better choose a spot close to bathrooms
➡️Plan to find a shady spot to avoid sunburns / heat
➡️Prepare to be extra vigilant because none of them swim (#thanksCOVID)
➡️Warn the kids head of time not to feed the seagulls
➡️Oh yeah. Diapers.
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Last but not least: ✨enjoy ✨savour the moment ✨carpe diem ✨they grow up so fast
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➡️unpack allthethings...
➡️rinse/hang wet things
➡️food back in fridge / pantry
➡️wash out / wipe down cooler, put away
➡️get kids bathed/showered off to avoid sand in beds
➡️kids are hungry, decide what’s reasonable before bed
➡️prep / serve / clean it up
➡️bedtime (stories, song, prayer, snuggle, etc)
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✔️ Skills used: budgeting, time management, communication, empathy, risk management, planning, organization, adaptability, leadership, patience, problem-solving, decision-making, flexibility, conflict resolution, team management, etc.
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If you've been there ☝🏻, share this post​
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If you know someone who's been there, tag them to show you appreciate what it takes 💛
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And this year's photo:

Shoutout to all you mamas (and dads) who've planned and executed beach days, or day trips / outings with kids 😅

Unpaid care is work.

It takes skills.

And for parents prepping to take kids with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or who are neurodiverse, the list could probs be 1.5x this… bringing mobility aids, meds, extra activities/distractions, etc. etc. etc.…

I’ll bet this list is barely the start!
I see you 💛

Is there anything I missed that you'd add?

Hit reply and let me know! :)

Here with you every step of the way,

rebecca joy