Martripuntos: Points for fathers who assist with family and kids | EUROtoday

Recently at a celebration: A father buddy of mine greets me with the phrases: “Well, are you cashing in your Matripuntos today too?” Matripuntos, he explains to me on my puzzled face, are known as bonus factors in Colombia for stuff you do with the family and kids. You can redeem them for private freedoms.

“So no,” I say slightly too unexpectedly, “I don’t collect points, my girlfriend and I don’t count anything against each other. We treat ourselves to everything and trust that everyone does their part.” I stammer and really feel like I’m on the grocery store checkout when I’m requested whether or not I acquire Payback, loyalty or WMF factors.

To which I all the time reply with a wierd sense of delight, “No!” This no is a morally superior one that wishes to say: “My data is sacred to me and I am a thoughtful consumer” – in fact additionally of all attainable Internet companies the place I settle for the phrases and circumstances with out hesitating for a second.

So the place does my spontaneous rejection of the Matripuntos come from? My self-image is that of a gift father. Someone who – in contrast to different males – reliably takes on 50 % of the care work. I get pleasure from spending time with my daughter, studying to her, going to the playground along with her, choosing her up from daycare and placing her to mattress. I get presents for kids’s birthdays and control every part they want.

That’s all true, however maybe – if I’m trustworthy – the “gladly” ought to be deleted in a single place or one other. Of course I really feel obliged to meet all of this and that is what I do. But maybe generally the dedication is stronger than the achievement. And, that is additionally the reality: I anticipate the identical from my girlfriend.

Latin America appears to have a extra informal strategy to home duties. A fast analysis exhibits that this idea is a set time period. You can discover suggestions in guardian boards on tips on how to get life with kids below management with Matripuntos.

Family loyalty factors have additionally discovered their method into widespread tradition. Three years in the past, a terrific Argentine comedy appeared on Netflix by which the idea was taken significantly in a humorous method.

It’s about an app that provides the fictional factors a set forex – placing them to mattress offers you 50 factors, cooking dinner offers you 65. A pair with two kids is now attempting to present their relationship new dynamics with this app. At first it really works brilliantly; they pamper one another with selfless gestures.

Then – how might or not it’s in any other case in a romantic comedy – the sport will get uncontrolled. The most absurd, pointless duties are accomplished with a view to get much more factors, and naturally you all the time should make it possible for your companion would not have extra factors than you. You’re giving up on the app once more.

But the extra I give it some thought, the extra I like this idea. I believe it is sensible to make enjoyable of the truth that it is such a set phrase. The Matripuntos give a phrase to what occurs in a relationship – particularly with kids.

Ultimately, that is simply being trustworthy. It reveals that the work I declare to do round the home, utterly selflessly and totally get pleasure from it, has a price. It’s not all the time a pleasure to go away work at 3 p.m. or to spend Saturday at a toddler’s party. Of course, secretly I anticipate compensation for such companies – my very own, unstated matripuntos.

If I keep at house with a sick little one for a number of days, sooner or later I discover frustration setting in. Suddenly I do not like doing all of it that a lot anymore. But as a substitute of being pissed off, I could possibly be trustworthy and acquire Matripuntos.

Then you not say: “Feel free to work overtime, I really enjoy doing it all.” Rather: “I’ll take care of it now – but I’d also like to have a turn for it.” Then you will not be in such a foul temper whereas taking care of kids.

So once I come house from the celebration feeling exhilarated, I’m wanting ahead to the subsequent day. From twelve o’clock. Because – I do know this now – I’ll redeem my Matripuntos for sleeping in with a transparent conscience.