From Wikipedia: Kinkeeping is the act of maintaining and strengthening familial ties. It is a form of emotional labor done both out of a sense of obligation and because of emotional attachment...
Kinkeeping activities help extended family members of differing households stay in touch with one another and strengthen intergenerational bonds.[2] Methods may include telephoning, writing letters, visiting, sending gifts, acting as a caregiver for disabled or infirm family members, or providing economic aid.[3][1]
Speaking as the primary kinkeeper in my marriage, I can say that it can be... a lot. I plan the vacations, organize the birthday parties, register for school, remember and prepare for school theme days, buy all of the gifts for family members, order from nieces' and nephew's school fundraisers, register for camps (which reminds me... I need to do that this week...), research caregiving for my aging parents... the list goes on... and one... and on. This isn't a complaint. I do it because I LIKE to do it. My husband takes on more of the cooking and grocery shopping than I do. But liking to do something doesn't mean that it isn't work. That it can't be stressful. If you're not the primary kinkeeper, take a look at the calendar, see what taks are coming up, and knock them off the list. I am always grateful and relieved when these tasks are completed before I can get to them. I wouldn't want to give up being the kinkeeper. I truly love the organizing and planning and I would miss it. But I am so SO grateful when my husband manages a few of these things without my even asking!
