Anonymous wrote:My MIL only includes the women on emails and texts about travel plans, holidays, etc. I said something in passing about it to my husband about how it’s a symptom of the patriarchy and we got in a huge fight that lasted days. I actually don’t even try to fix it anymore and just do EVERYTHING but apparently can’t call a spade a spade. Apparently that was very insulting to him and all of his male relatives.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in my mid 30s and I do this because I’m just too tired to play dumb. Y’all husbands don’t text back or do their fair share of this stuff. I don’t blame you but I’m not gonna waste my time.

So you’re going to try to waste my time? I don’t think so. If your brother can’t be bothered to reply to you, take the hint and don’t expect a close family relationship. I’m not your family’s therapist, personal shopper or cruise director.

My SILs aunts etc are still picking up the rope *shrug* like I say I’m not playing games about who “should” do it. I’m operating in accordance with experience.

…and modeling to your sons and daughters that family relationships, holidays, logistics, meals, and the like are “women’s work.” You are showing your sons and daughters that men can do nothing but relax and enjoy the holidays and family gatherings that are organized by women. Great job!

Okay, well, so be it. I don’t need to add more steps to holiday coordination in case my 4 yo son reads my texts and makes inferences. Just keeping the ball moving.

Welp, you’re raising a son, so chances are, you will reap what you sow: very few calls, total disinterest in vacations and holidays, and mayyyyyybe he will remember your birthday.

Anonymous wrote:My MIL only includes the women on emails and texts about travel plans, holidays, etc. I said something in passing about it to my husband about how it’s a symptom of the patriarchy and we got in a huge fight that lasted days. I actually don’t even try to fix it anymore and just do EVERYTHING but apparently can’t call a spade a spade. Apparently that was very insulting to him and all of his male relatives.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in my mid 30s and I do this because I’m just too tired to play dumb. Y’all husbands don’t text back or do their fair share of this stuff. I don’t blame you but I’m not gonna waste my time.

So you’re going to try to waste my time? I don’t think so. If your brother can’t be bothered to reply to you, take the hint and don’t expect a close family relationship. I’m not your family’s therapist, personal shopper or cruise director.

My SILs aunts etc are still picking up the rope *shrug* like I say I’m not playing games about who “should” do it. I’m operating in accordance with experience.

…and modeling to your sons and daughters that family relationships, holidays, logistics, meals, and the like are “women’s work.” You are showing your sons and daughters that men can do nothing but relax and enjoy the holidays and family gatherings that are organized by women. Great job!

Okay, well, so be it. I don’t need to add more steps to holiday coordination in case my 4 yo son reads my texts and makes inferences. Just keeping the ball moving.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in my mid 30s and I do this because I’m just too tired to play dumb. Y’all husbands don’t text back or do their fair share of this stuff. I don’t blame you but I’m not gonna waste my time.

So you’re going to try to waste my time? I don’t think so. If your brother can’t be bothered to reply to you, take the hint and don’t expect a close family relationship. I’m not your family’s therapist, personal shopper or cruise director.

My SILs aunts etc are still picking up the rope *shrug* like I say I’m not playing games about who “should” do it. I’m operating in accordance with experience.

…and modeling to your sons and daughters that family relationships, holidays, logistics, meals, and the like are “women’s work.” You are showing your sons and daughters that men can do nothing but relax and enjoy the holidays and family gatherings that are organized by women. Great job!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in my mid 30s and I do this because I’m just too tired to play dumb. Y’all husbands don’t text back or do their fair share of this stuff. I don’t blame you but I’m not gonna waste my time.

So you’re going to try to waste my time? I don’t think so. If your brother can’t be bothered to reply to you, take the hint and don’t expect a close family relationship. I’m not your family’s therapist, personal shopper or cruise director.

My SILs aunts etc are still picking up the rope *shrug* like I say I’m not playing games about who “should” do it. I’m operating in accordance with experience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did none of these older women have jobs? I was born in 1986 and NONE of the women in my family had jobs but I thought we were an anomaly. How exhausting to be trying to work and also be expected to coordinate a gourmet meal (and there better not be any subpar stuffing.)

OP here. I was born in 1979 and plenty of my mom’s peers had jobs, including my mom, but it’s like they still have this ingrained homemaking servitude chip embedded in them. My dad does no holiday prep or planning, no meal prep or planning, doesn’t even buy cards and gifts for his own sister. I can recall holidays where my brother was allowed to stay at the table while my sister and I were expected to clear the table. I don’t get it, I really don’t.

I think because if it was left to the majority of men nothing would happen. Seriously. My husband doesn't care about Thanksgiving or Easter dinners. If it were up to him, he would just find someplace that has takeout. Same with special holiday traditions for the kids. I do care about it though. So there it is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in my mid 30s and I do this because I’m just too tired to play dumb. Y’all husbands don’t text back or do their fair share of this stuff. I don’t blame you but I’m not gonna waste my time.

So you’re going to try to waste my time? I don’t think so. If your brother can’t be bothered to reply to you, take the hint and don’t expect a close family relationship. I’m not your family’s therapist, personal shopper or cruise director.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My MIL and FIL try to do this, but I keep refusing to be the main point of contact.

MIL will text me and only me to ask for dates of visits, menus, gift ideas for the kids, etc. I always add DH to the text chain and say “Thanks, Ted and I will discuss and he’ll be in touch soon!”

Like, she will actually contact me about logistics and what I’m bringing to THEIR family reunion. I add DH to the text chain and say, “DH usually makes a pie, but he’ll let you know what else he is planning to bring! He’ll let you know what dates we can make it.” This is an annual even that has been going on for decades before we married, why the H would I be the main point of contact for the Smith family reunion?!

You sound like a brat. They are tying to include you.

Anonymous wrote:The call is coming from inside the house! Stop the madness. WHY are women doing this to other women?

My family is visiting my parents this week. My aunt stopped by and spent the entire time yapping about her daughter-in-law, and “why she hasn’t firmed up Thanksgiving plans yet” and “isn’t texting me back about food plans.” I asked her point blank she wasn’t picking up the phone and calling her son. And she honestly seemed baffled and was like, “How would he know what time dinner is, or what food I should bring? He has a job, he’s working.” I said you know Dana has a full-time job, too, right? She’s busy, too. And my aunt just scoffed and said it was her responsibility.

Like, what is going on that it is 2022 and women still expect that other women will do everything related to holiday dynamics, meals, gifts, family relationships, etc. Why do you not expect your husbands, sons, brothers, etc., to be active and full participants?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did none of these older women have jobs? I was born in 1986 and NONE of the women in my family had jobs but I thought we were an anomaly. How exhausting to be trying to work and also be expected to coordinate a gourmet meal (and there better not be any subpar stuffing.)

OP here. I was born in 1979 and plenty of my mom’s peers had jobs, including my mom, but it’s like they still have this ingrained homemaking servitude chip embedded in them. My dad does no holiday prep or planning, no meal prep or planning, doesn’t even buy cards and gifts for his own sister. I can recall holidays where my brother was allowed to stay at the table while my sister and I were expected to clear the table. I don’t get it, I really don’t.

I think because if it was left to the majority of men nothing would happen. Seriously. My husband doesn't care about Thanksgiving or Easter dinners. If it were up to him, he would just find someplace that has takeout. Same with special holiday traditions for the kids. I do care about it though. So there it is.

It's this. I overheard a dad talking at the end of the season sports game yesterday about the coach gift. Another dad asked something about it, and the first dad said something like "dads never sit around and decide that what the coach really needs is a gift." Probably the dad coach didn't care either. But, one of the moms got a text chain going to solicit funds for the coach gift to all the other moms. Women bring this on themselves. They decide things need to happen and then are left to make them happen. When men often don't even care if they happen at all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did none of these older women have jobs? I was born in 1986 and NONE of the women in my family had jobs but I thought we were an anomaly. How exhausting to be trying to work and also be expected to coordinate a gourmet meal (and there better not be any subpar stuffing.)

OP here. I was born in 1979 and plenty of my mom’s peers had jobs, including my mom, but it’s like they still have this ingrained homemaking servitude chip embedded in them. My dad does no holiday prep or planning, no meal prep or planning, doesn’t even buy cards and gifts for his own sister. I can recall holidays where my brother was allowed to stay at the table while my sister and I were expected to clear the table. I don’t get it, I really don’t.

I think because if it was left to the majority of men nothing would happen. Seriously. My husband doesn't care about Thanksgiving or Easter dinners. If it were up to him, he would just find someplace that has takeout. Same with special holiday traditions for the kids. I do care about it though. So there it is.

Anonymous wrote:My MIL and FIL try to do this, but I keep refusing to be the main point of contact.

MIL will text me and only me to ask for dates of visits, menus, gift ideas for the kids, etc. I always add DH to the text chain and say “Thanks, Ted and I will discuss and he’ll be in touch soon!”

Like, she will actually contact me about logistics and what I’m bringing to THEIR family reunion. I add DH to the text chain and say, “DH usually makes a pie, but he’ll let you know what else he is planning to bring! He’ll let you know what dates we can make it.” This is an annual even that has been going on for decades before we married, why the H would I be the main point of contact for the Smith family reunion?!