ICYMI: Hard to care? It might be because you don’t get enough care yourself.
A conversation with care correspondent Lynn Berger
Hello! We are two journalists writing about family and caregiving from a feminist perspective. Research, interviews and personal stories connecting systemic issues and family life; also, 40+ mom humor. You can read past issues here. Follow us on Instagram here.
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I recently spoke with the Dutch journalist Lynn Berger, whose new book is all about care and care work. Here’s some of what she told me:
In order to care for someone, you need empathy. You need to be able to regulate your own behavior, so that you can fulfill the needs of others.
In order to do that, you need time, you need support, and you don't need stress, because stress makes it harder to be empathetic. It makes it harder to control yourself, and it makes it harder to help others.
As a species, we're not giving ourselves and each other what we need in order to be able to care for each other.
I loved this interview, and these quotes especially. Puts into words things that I often think myself, but don't say as eloquently or clearly!