Thursday, January 28, 2010

Doing the house work

Tis a major coup to get my wife to go out and earn the daily bread - she always has earned more than me, when she's working, so it makes sense now I'm following my career without payment.
What doesn't quite work out though is sharing the sink , especially when she comes home. I know I am supposed to wash and dry and have everything away before she gets home but we have our different ways of doing things and a set of regulations over how many wipes with which cloth is not going to happen - from her side, or mine . I think we're finally working twoards a agreement about where things are supposed to go ( some verbal some grunt some smack and some flack but no written orders, thank you
BUT  we still clash over quality matters in particular . Mum told me the woman is the Queen of the kitchen so if i accept that now , as before , what does that make me? I interpret that as "obedience "(no argument to revise decision)  in an area of territory ( something Saint Paul, Robert Ardrey and I agree on , in theory !) The trouble is I haven't quite taken on her standards . Is she rational about her standards ( lets just leave that one ) She's the umpire here right?
Lets just say that 30yrs of using the magic cupboard is hard to give up, especially when you're saving energy , fat , flavor and time by not scraping off the burnt bits off the frypan every time you use it  .
old habits die hard.
As far as incentive though --for change in her direction goes ( believe me girls it can happen ) putting man on house duty for a couple of weeks may just be enough .
I used to think my cooking was "a big favor" and leaving the dishes till morning - just fine,  but once you PICK UP after every body for all those hours they spread themselves and their belongings across the floors, you realise.................... the house keeper's  day is very long .too long.The job is BEST done BEFORE you go to bed !!!!
You TOO WILL want to wake up to a clean house,  not a dirty one . Job satisfaction--- it's called.

Yes it does mean a lot to her for you to take things back from the table , to empty the dishwasher and to pick up shed items before you crash . Do it

Men never learn,  they say of us - how true . It was over 10yrs ago that sustained activity at the sink by the male of the species was widely advocated as an aphrodisiac . I ignored that advice because a wet tea towel does not turn me on - it still doesn't - now I not only know why, but have the confidence and experience that simply  placing yourself before the altar of sacrifice does work  - sometimes . There are guarantees with grace,  but you have to be patient ! on other question "How do you teach patience to your children "- show em.Is nothing easy?  Have a good day!

4 comments:

  1. Little John...
    thanks heaps for brightening my somewhat "trying to recoup from burnbout" day at home.. no work (hey.... fun at home: lost count at how many times the phone rang and continues throughout the evening; a visit from an Installation consultant, a knock at the door from some very insist ant missionaries, then the important call I had to make - not a chat call (did I know that it was going to take about an hour and a half and that I would miss (and forget) making dinner for those who needed to go to other commitments and finish homework - I must have done something right.. they did it themselves.... anticipating maybe that the call would go well overtime and besides starvation set in). Did my house work get done.. well, the dishes and washing did and the floor got swept and the dog got to play ball.

    Little John... I've had a really good laugh at your account - your account of your house work woes that is. Thank you.

    Remember, your wife really is a major coup... and children too. Hey, can I have your dishwasher? One last thought. Do children teach us patience, or do we teach them patience.

    The Queen of the Kitchen. Your mum is one very wise woman.

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  2. Little John, keep on working on your job satisfaction.

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  3. PS That couple just look too happy in their kitchen

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  4. Mongaby Sorry I missed your comments . Thanks I think you are right Do children teach us patience? - yeah you are so right .Similiarly Do we get children to remind us how bad we can be . Just been watching grumpy old men .My son loves it -relief in the truth ? Love you keep in touch on facebook (modra, john) if you're interested.

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