Fifteen years ago, while living in rural Cambodia, I developed a new appreciation for washing machines and dryers. My house was unique in that we owned a washer, but I often watched local women use washing boards to clean their clothing. We didn’t own a dryer, and I would wait to do laundry if I saw it was a rainy day and likely to pour. The rainy season made doing laundry much more complicated. I would have to hope my clothes dried on the line in the early afternoon before the torrential rain showers began.
I found myself thinking about my love and appreciation for my washer and dryer when I saw a meme circulating among other mothers on social media. On the left is a mother trudging through her home with a large sack on her back, representing the mental load of motherhood. On the right, the sack is larger and more festively decorated for Christmas.
Mary Catherine Starr, the…
