Well, most of our family.

Honey, can you get us a cold cloth?

I text my partner.

An adult and a child cuddle while sleeping on a bed. The adult is wearing a short-sleeve shirt and leggings. The child is dressed in a short-sleeve dress

After reading my husbands response, I immediately reconsider the request.

Maybe I should ask my mom (who lives 15 minutes away) to bring us a washcloth.

I wouldnt need to text her detailed instructions on how to make a cold cloth.

Close-up of a parent holding hands with a child who is lying in bed with a stuffed animal

Texting my partner with one hand, I comfort my crying son with the other.

The sleep-deprived knot in my stomach wont let me ignore the truth: I wish parenting felt more equal.

Why isnt taking care of our son when hes sick more balanced between us?

A woman lovingly holds and looks at a toddler in a cozy, comfortable environment

Women are typically expected to be caregivers, Spears said.

Any of this feel familiar?

If the responsibility to care for your coughing kids is all yours, know that you are not alone.

A woman in a gray sweatshirt is seated on a couch, placing a thermometer in the mouth of a resting child covered by a yellow blanket

But when her kids were 2 and 6.5, she started working outside the home again.

So she took over caregiving duties when she could to ease tensions.

And then, in some cases, its about perceived caregiving competency as is the case in my family.

Working parents should be in frequent communication about the equity of shared parenting responsibilities, Smith told HuffPost.

Its a good idea to have a plan in place before the kids get sick.

When talking to your partner, clear communication about boundaries and expectations is crucial, Tovar said.

Smith added that moms and dads need to get more comfortable allowing and expecting dads to enter this role.

For many families, the model of a caregiver has always been Mom.

But with communication, commitment and collaboration, this model can change.