Charlie Work

I came to a deep realization today. Being a parent is pretty similar to being Charlie on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. On the show, Charlie is the one that everyone makes do the unpleasant tasks, like killing rats and cleaning the toilets at the bar. Here is the definition of "Charlie Work" from Urban Dictionary (a totally legitimate source):

Charlie Work: work that is understood to be "bitch work" and is not in your usual job description. Usually relegated to workers lowest on the totem pole. Example: Fuck this, I don't have to clean this toilet. That's Charlie Work. 

Are there rats in the toilet too?

As kids gain independence and grow, they can be selective about which tasks they'd like to do themselves and which ones are Charlie Work.

If you think about it, you can come up with tons of examples:

1. When a kid has trash, they hand it to a parent. Even if that's further away than a trash can.

2. Even after potty training happens, parents still get called in to wipe and flush.

3. This:


She is absolutely capable of eating her macaroni and cheese without my help, yet she has decided that the acts of putting the pasta on the fork and blowing on it are Charlie Work.

You need someone to blow on your pasta?? I'll do it!

My other Charlie Work duties include holding her sippy cup in case she gets thirsty (heaven forbid she just sets it down on a table or something), carrying her whenever she chooses not to walk, and dirt holder. I'm lower on the totem pole than my  husband because she'll walk right past him to hand me a piece of dirt or fuzz she found.

Maybe it's because I run with her in the jogging stroller so often, but she has also decided that is Charlie Work too. Walking isn't encouraged, only running. On our run this morning, every time I took a walk break, she twisted around in her seat and said: "Go! Go! GO!" and then laughed. Even my own child is heckling me for needing walk breaks on a 3 mile run.

Whatever Mommy, just push me faster. I have a need for speed!

If you're reading all of this and still wondering "WTF is Charlie Work and who actually watches that show?" I'm here to tell you that you should be watching It's Always Sunny. Just trust me.

I got really into the show when I was pregnant with Faith and we watched a ton of it when she was a newborn. That probably explains so much.



Do you delegate Charlie Work or do you think people dump it on you?