(cue special music for breaking news story)
Having a husband creates an extra seven hours of housework each week for women, according to a new study. For men, tying the knot saves an hour of weekly chores.
Yeah... remember when you were dating and your boyfriend was SO helpful around the place? Mine never let me do the dishes and I FELL FOR IT! I grew up in a household where my mom did all the kitchen work and my dad was truly proud of himself if he carried his dish to the counter, near the dishwasher. Then he retired to the couch, you know, because he was tired after a long day's work. It bugged the hell out of me. She worked a full day too but somehow it was fine that he didn't have to help. So this was so important to me in choosing a mate - someone who shared in the chores around the house and didn't expect anyone to clean up after him.
Apparently it is true that you will live in a situation similar to your up-bringing so you fall right back to your old familial patterns.
"It's a well-known pattern," said lead researcher Frank Stafford, an economist at University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research. "Men tend to work more outside the home, while women take on more of the household labor."
I wonder what would happen if I went back to work full time?
He points out individual differences among households exist. But in general, marriage means more housework for women and less for men. "And the situation gets worse for women when they have children," Stafford said.
Having kids boosts house chores even further. With more than three kids, for instance, wives took on more of the extra work, clocking about 28 hours a week compared with husbands' 10 hours.
Try adding two small children and two teenagers whose Dad doesn't want them to do chores. (I can't really explain why this is the way it is, but they aren't required to do anything and I am not supposed to ask them.) Do you think they are going to volunteer?
So, I am building my OWN character and those of my little children by raising them to contribute to their household and smile while doing it. :D
I found that card the other day at a store. I laughed so hard I had tears running down my face. I thought the timing of the news story was great since that card had been on my mind for a week now.
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