Bargaining doesn’t have to be boring, nor does it have to be a fight. First, list the tasks that you and your spouse are inclined to step back from, i.e. making the baby food, cleaning the diaper pail (or cloth diapers, for the eco-mamas), pre-treating the laundry riddled with vomit, or waking up at night with the little one.

Once you’ve determined the daunting duties, jot them down on some scraps of paper and drop them in a bowl. Each of you draw an even number of tasks, and once you have your tasks, you can then determine the rewards.  For instance, waking up three times a night might not be so bad if your man promises you a foot rub before bed each night. And he might dispose of those diapers with pleasure if you promise a different ‘pleasure’ in exchange.

This system isn’t about obligations. It’s about showing appreciation to your partner for sharing the load, and having a good time while doing so. You can switch up the tasks weekly to keep up with variety, or however often you see fit. So go ahead, work hard and have fun… your improved mood and your baby will thank you for it!