How to divide up household tasks?

0 votes

Even though we both work full time, somehow I have wound up doing more and more of the household work until I'm doing basically all of it. We have tried assigned tasks which my husband will do for a little while but then stop and never do again. And now he says that because he makes more than I do he shouldn't spend his time doing stuff around the house. But I used to make more than he did! And I still make almost what he does, about 4% less. If I had an extra 3-4 hours/day to focus on my career (which is about what I spend on household/kid stuff), I would again, probably within a year. I'm SO frustrated and I don't know how to fix it.

Has anyone out there successfully addressed this issue?

Anonymous

Jan 6, 2010

2 Answers

  • 0 votes

    My husband works ouside of the home and I work from home. The bulk of the day-to-day care and maintenance falls on my plate. What we have been able to negotiate is that if I plan, prepare and cook a meal- he cleans up! He is also pretty much is in charge of the laundry. These may seem like small tasks- but they feel really important when I am tired and spent from a day with work, kids, house, errands etc... Funny how a simple task like taking out the trash can become so important. If only he knew how happy I would be and how simple the task is :)
    Care

    Where did the time go?
    New Hampshire

    Jan 11, 2010

  • 0 votes

    This is an "age old" question / dilemma that (mostly) mothers have been asking for years. I truly doubt if there is a resolution to it. Just be thankful that you live in this era where Dads and husbands will consider helping out at all! Fifty years ago women were expected to do ALL of the household work -- regardless of what their other activities were.

    It's certainly true that the balance used to be much worse (balance may not even be the right word ;), but I take issue with the idea that there may not be a "resolution to it". It seems to me that the vast strides from where we've been to where we are now is proof that equality is possible, both in the workplace and (maybe more challengingly) at home.

    - andrea, Jan 7, 2010

    Anonymous

    Jan 7, 2010



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