If we were going multiple times a week- no way. Our kids are 8-11 now so nanny drives, car pools, and us. It’s a nice mix and we like to know the program better, other parents, and our kids. |
Family: He looks online and makes movie suggestions, want to eat out a lot, and asks what we’re doing all the time. Himself: finds what sci fi movie he watches easy night, makes a couple pots of coffee for himself, orders weird tech stuff online, rinks a beer in the pool instead of showering. |
I'm the PP and I don't know if these are "fundamental" differences are not. Like I don't know if this is innate or socialized in or some combination. I just know that there are differences. But the problem with your proposal is that you'll say "men aren't going to change, accept it or don't marry." But that's a limited way of thinking about it. What I really wish is that we lived in a culture that really, truly appreciated (and valued $$$$) the work women do to make families work, in a way commensurate with the way it appreciates and values workforce-based work. This is really the fundamental problem. Women started working and fighting for equality in the workplace because we live in a culture where that is where ALL the power is. If you can't make money, you have no power in our society. So women who were just staying home and caring for kids and homes had no power except what their money-making husbands chose to share with them. And many of those men chose not to share any of it. So what can women do, right? I'm good at my job but I'm a GREAT mom, and good at managing a house and family too. It's a genuine frustration to me that in order to have what feels like an equal marriage, I have to do both. Especially when my husband just isn't that good at parenting and running the household. And not only that, but I have encourage and facilitate him doing a lot of parenting and housework that he does poorly, so we can feel "equal." All because if we structured our family along our strengths, I'd lose all my economic power, and for self-preservation reasons, I can't do that. It's a real problem. I don't think all families would wind up with "man works, woman stays home." I don't even think that's how my family would work (I like working, I think I'd work part-time in a less demanding job, and use the extra money to outsource some of the stuff at home I don't like). But if we really valued the work of parenting and keeping house, families could divide these jobs in a way that made sense for the people involved. Everyone should be valued for their labor. All of this happens because we live in a culture that absolutely refuses to view parenting/childcare/pregnancy/childbirth/housekeeping/home management as real labor, especially if performed by a woman for her own family (it's still undervalued when outsourced but at least people do get paid for it at this point, a relatively recent development actually). |
I think I do a lot more than my DH wrt parenting but I totally sit in my car or outside somewhere and read a book or look at my phone during practice/class. What am I supposed to be doing? Talking to the other parents? Intently watching my kid so I can give them feedback later? Why? I talked to people all day at work and when I get home my house will be nothing but talking and listening until kids go to bed. I want a freaking break. I don't begrudge that of anyone, man or woman. |
DP. It's not that it's not viewed as real work. It's that no one wants to pay you for work done for your own family. Why would taxpayers compensate you for doing your family's domestic work? Who else other than your spouse should be responsible for providing you money, resources or a home? |
I know! Make Grandma watch your kids!! Then you can work, your husband can do whatever, and grandpa can continue to do whatever. Score! |
I think women understand that just fine. That’s why they’re not in a rush to marry men, for whom paragraphs of excuses will be written, which is the point of the the thread… |
Amen |
I agree with you. I think the social security should be reformed for married couples, to ensure that 50% of earnings history is given to each person regardless of who is working. |
wow, I'm lucky that I have a Gen X husband who really does pull his weight.
Grateful after reading this thread. |
Men want sex. Plain and simple. |
lol. It never ends! The needy dependents! |