We can thank organized labor for the concept of the weekend in America. Dating back to the early 1900’s, labor began pushing for 5 day work weeks. By 1940, the concept had penetrated the workforce and Americans now consider it a right to have the weekend off from work.

Yet, technology has changed this. When I was younger and my Mom was a teacher, the weekend was really our time off. Sometimes we might go to a teacher supply store and make decorations for her room, but mostly we rested and did chores.

My Dad worked shift work though so his “weekends” were different days all the time. Still, he earned two days off.

As I grew into a young adult, I was frequently working on political campaigns and/or as a staffer to an Elected Official. I would work weekends and all hours of the day and night. Weekends were for town hall meetings, blockwalking, phone banks and more.

Still, as a young adult, I found time to celebrate the weekend. If I didn’t have something to do on a Saturday night, I thought the world had ended.

As a parent, the concept of weekend changed again. Birthday parties, trips to the zoo, play dates and so much more completely changed my concept of the weekend. Suddenly, they didn’t belong to me anymore – they belong to the kid.

And, as a parental caregiver, the concept has changed yet again. The weekend is the time to take care of Dad’s errands, pay his bills, and spend time with him.

Balancing the Dad and the Kid has become a pure art form.

And, like most Americans, the smartphone keeps working 24/7. The emails click through and the texts keep coming and sometimes, even calls that raise an issue that must be dealt with, no matter the day. Oh, how we love our technology.

In spite of it all, I still relish the weekend. The mere fact that I can put on a pair of jeans to work my way through the obligations makes it worthwhile.

Cheers to the weekend!