household chores

@mtoxales (374)
Canada
April 7, 2007 9:38pm CST
Do you feel guilty to ask help from your husband to do some chores in the house when you know that he could be tired from work? Sometimes it is just frustrating to do everything at home. Am I the only one feeling this?
2 people like this
7 responses
@lucy67 (819)
• China
9 Apr 07
even though you are a full time housewife, you needn't feel guilty to ask your hubby to help you because chores are too tiring for a woman. you'd better ask him to help you so that he can gets to know what hard work you are doing. but you should choose the right time and the right way to ask for his help. you can ask him to help you when he is not so tired or when he is in a happy mood. show your appreciation when he gives you a hand.
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
17 Apr 07
We have had this discussion with other couples. It seems that timing is EVERYTHING to men, when it comes to these things. Me...... I try to ask for help with chores that relate to my son, like giving him a bath. Then I can say it is important for you two to have time together. :)
@mtoxales (374)
• Canada
17 Apr 07
You are right. When I ask him to do something where he can spend time with the kids, he just does it. Sometimes I ask him to watch the kids for a few minutes when I do the laundry. This way I can have my time alone somehow although I'm still doing the chores.
@mtoxales (374)
• Canada
9 Apr 07
You're right! I think timing is right. My husband tells me to ask him for help sometimes. It's just that when he's doing something like watching basketball or playing games in the computer, I feel like I should not be disturbing him. If only our husbands can be sensitive enough sometimes to know that we need help too. And it's just weird that we agreed that he is the one taking out the garbage but he never does until I say that it's full. As if he's not throwing trash for him not to know. Oh the excuses of men! =)
@faith6 (47)
• United States
14 Apr 07
don't feel guilty, i'm a stay at home mom and between juggleing my 5 month old snd all the house chores is way to much, just think about it, my husband gets to go to work and get out of the house,away from the crying and then a 1/2 hour break during the day.its easier to wait on customers or do paperwork than feel the stress of constantly taking care of someone and the house. where is are alone time??????????exactly there is none
@mtoxales (374)
• Canada
14 Apr 07
Moms like us do need the "me time". Does it happen to you that when you ask your husband if you can just take a little walk or go out of the house for a little while and he looks at you and says "why?"...Don't they realize what we feel sometimes? Do they need to ask why?
• United States
8 Apr 07
Do I feel guilty? Heck NO! I work 40+ hours a week the same that he does. I still have to go outside and do the gardening. Why shouldn't he help with the laundry, cooking, dishes, ect... The way I look at it is that there is no such thing as womans work or mans work, it is all unisex work now. If both husband & wife are working bringing home a paycheck to support the joint marital debt then absolutely ALL chores should be done by both. Don't you dare feel guilty!
@mtoxales (374)
• Canada
8 Apr 07
I forgot to mention that I'm feeling guilty because I'm a fulltime housewife. But the chores at home are also work. Taking care of the kids plus cleaning the house, doing laundry are hard work. So I still shouldn't feel guilty to ask for help sometimes. Thanks.
@chertsy (3798)
• United States
17 Apr 07
I don't ask mine to help me. I like doing things my way. He does his part by cooking. I can cook, but not the way he can as he's a chef. I do the dishes, because I have a system of loading the dishwasher. If he did it, he would just shove everything in there and then force the door shut. Forget about doing laundry, he somehow managed to bleach one shirt out of a full load without using bleach. I been doing this for 11 years with two kids, and moving seven times, with having to do most of it five times. My husband works 40 hours a week, and on his days off. He will either mow the yard if it needs it, then cook dinner, and play with the girls. He does tell me a lot that it's time for our oldest to start helping out by doing chores, but it's like getting him to do it. I rather just do it myself, at least I know it's getting done right. I used to be a clean freak, where the house smelt of bleach and pine sol all the time. I don't go that over board anymore, since my fibromyalgia kicks in after I over do it. I give anything to go through my house and get rid of some stuff and clean from top to bottom like I used to.
@Mshell (62)
• United States
9 Apr 07
NO! I am a new housewife and my job is hard! I have to clean, cook, take care of the kids, then do it all again. My husband works 8 hours a day. I start working at 7 am and I am still going at 11pm trying to get up the mess that they have already made. Maybe I get more breaks than him, but I work much longer. At 11pm when I start to head to bed, here he comes! Then my children get up at least 2 times in the night. I am on call 24 hours a day and I DO EVERYTHING! even mow the lawn. So whenever I ask my husband to help, he should try to make an attempt.
@mtoxales (374)
• Canada
14 Apr 07
I am in the same situation as yours. I think our husbands should not only attempt to help us. A little initiative from them is rewarding enough. Thanks!
• United States
8 Apr 07
Whaaaaaat?! How DARE I ask him to do anything?! Last time I asked him to put out the garbage, guess who did it? ME! I cannot rely on his memory to do anything. He's too busy with the computer and playing guitar. Give me a break! If I could get him to do anything by himself, it's be a miracle!
@mtoxales (374)
• Canada
8 Apr 07
It's comforting to know that it's not only me who's experiencing this. I also ask my hubby to take out the garbage and he just says "i'll do it later" then when I check on it the next day, the garbage is still there. I guess men are really like this. You can't take them away from their computer or games.
@chertsy (3798)
• United States
17 Apr 07
I don't ask mine to help me. I like doing things my way. He does his part by cooking. I can cook, but not the way he can as he's a chef. I do the dishes, because I have a system of loading the dishwasher. If he did it, he would just shove everything in there and then force the door shut. Forget about doing laundry, he somehow managed to bleach one shirt out of a full load without using bleach. I been doing this for 11 years with two kids, and moving seven times, with having to do most of it five times. My husband works 40 hours a week, and on his days off. He will either mow the yard if it needs it, then cook dinner, and play with the girls. He does tell me a lot that it's time for our oldest to start helping out by doing chores, but it's like getting him to do it. I rather just do it myself, at least I know it's getting done right. I used to be a clean freak, where the house smelt of bleach and pine sol all the time. I don't go that over board anymore, since my fibromyalgia kicks in after I over do it. I give anything to go through my house and get rid of some stuff and clean from top to bottom like I used to.