Should a woman (SAHM) be doing EVERYTHING in the house if she doesn't go out to work?

mattcanary

supersaver2 wrote: »

My wife would happily admit to doing those things listed when on maternity leave, lots of trips to town to meet other parents for coffee and cakes or somedays having a lazy day at home bringing baby into bed and watching movies! I said good for her, enjoy it whilst your off! The house was always tidy, she did the shopping and we have a disabled child who has lots of medical appointments as well. Ohh and 3 dogs! No time for cleaning all day, more fun to be had!

Of course, most housewives or househusbands don't spend most of their time doing housework.
They have a lot of free time to do what they want, when they want.


Mind you, some people in paid work enjoy their job too and are not busy grinding away for a lot of the working day.

Georgiegirl256

skintchick wrote: »

The houses of the working mums that I go into say otherwise! Usually they are a bit grubby and very untidy. Yours may well have been spotless but I don't think that's normal for peole with FT jobs and children.

Totally normal for the majority of people. All my friends and families who work FT jobs (both partners) and children have spotless houses.

My own Mam for example worked full time (as did my Dad), she had our house to look after and cook for AND my grandparents and both were immaculate.

With the very odd exceptions (lostinrates!) housework and chores shouldn't take anywhere near 30-35 hours IMO.

I do know some houses that aren't that clean, but that says more about the person rather than not having enough hours to keep on top of it.

tea_lover

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

Totally normal for the majority of people. All my friends and families who work FT jobs (both partners) and children have spotless houses.

Completely agree. All the houses I visit where both adults work are always spotless. As is mine (we both work, no kids, one hairy cat).

Georgiegirl256

tea_lover wrote: »

Completely agree. All the houses I visit where both adults work are always spotless. As is mine (we both work, no kids, one hairy cat).

Lol! I'm with you on the hairy cat! At the moment I'm hoovering more than usual because he's casting and there's piles of fur all around the house!

lostinrates

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

With the very odd exceptions (lostinrates!) housework and chores shouldn't take anywhere near 30-35 hours IMO.
.

Its not that odd. A fair few women in bigger or 'non standard' houses ( when finished certainly) would work and have cleaners, others stay at home and have cleaners:rotfl:. And gardeners! And still keep very busy. I've known a lot of these women. Five hours a day? Yep, I can see that happening for those women even with there help. Many of them worked part time too though, writers, artists or self employed.

FBaby

tea_lover wrote: »

Completely agree. All the houses I visit where both adults work are always spotless. As is mine (we both work, no kids, one hairy cat).

and mine. OH is borderline OTC and would go into meltdown if it wasn't. Once again, tidy/clean after yourself and everything takes little time.

2gorgeousgirls

catkins wrote: »

Seriously? So even at weekends you would cook, clean, sort out any food shopping, look after the children etc? That hardly seems fair.

Cook yes. But if I was a SAHM I would have the cleaning and shopping done to allow me time to spend with my family at the weekend.

The children in this scenario are 10 and 15 so hardly need care. Smaller children I would expect help with and I'm sure dads would want to help and spend time with their kids.

catkins

2gorgeousgirls wrote: »

Cook yes. But if I was a SAHM I would have the cleaning and shopping done to allow me time to spend with my family at the weekend.

Not all sahm drive though so may not be able to do all the shopping. As I said above, I don't drive and I do a lot of my shopping online especially heavy stuff like dog and cat food because I would not be able to do trips to the supermarket and then carry it all home but I will not buy fruit and veg online. I like to be able to look at the fruit and veg, feel it and, if it has a sell by date, check that. The pickers in supermarkets just throw it in your order and that's no good to me.


If I were to go and buy all the fruit and veg we get through in a week (vegetarians, so we get through a lot) I could not carry it all home and would have to make a few trips which would be expensive using the bus

ska_lover

mattcanary wrote: »

Mind you, some people in paid work enjoy their job too and are not busy grinding away for a lot of the working day.

Holy moly, not where I work :rotfl:

BNT

lostinrates wrote: »

I really don't know why people get so very nasty about others situations.

Because people seem to treat these questions as needing a right/wrong answer.