Relationship glossary

Emotional labor

In everyday relationship conversations, a phrase people may use for managing the tone, feelings, or social expectations around shared life. Here it is a descriptive phrase, not a diagnosis.

What it looks like at home

One partner may feel responsible for smoothing over every difficult message from relatives. That is different from simply remembering a shopping item.

The useful distinction

Name the actual behavior you mean. The phrase is used differently across contexts, so do not assume you and your partner mean the same work.

Read the practical guide: holidays two families