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Chores wars

(36 Posts)
jamsidedown Mon 06-Oct-14 23:30:00

Did anyone else hear the article on Womans Hour this morning about the division of household chores? Have you taken the quiz on their website and, if so, were you surprised by the outcome. Does retirement make any difference? For my part, it is quite startling how little DH does - but he is a great DIYer and can turn his hand to anything. He doesn't clean the loo but he does empty the toilet cassette every time it needs it when we are away in our motorhome which I would much rather he does!

Scaredycat1 Tue 07-Oct-14 13:25:35

Sorry for double identical post - fat finger syndrome.

goldengirl Tue 07-Oct-14 16:20:14

The mantra in our house from the male side is 'see a surface, put something on it' Drives me nuts

Maggiemaybe Tue 07-Oct-14 17:08:08

Yes, goldengirl, me too! I've been trying to clear our cellar, which is a haven for all our junk. Yesterday evening I was feeling good as I could actually see a fair expanse of carpet tiles and could at last get from the door to my washing machine without scaling obstacles in the way. This morning I opened the door and found my new space has been filled with 3 massive holdalls and several carrier bags, each spilling over with footballs, tabards, boots and other sporting equipment. Aaaargh!!!!

HollyDaze Wed 08-Oct-14 17:23:54

My husband was one of the laziest people on the planet - he just refused to do anything other than a bit of weeding in the garden every so often. He had one household task: emptying the kitchen bin. When asked to empty the bin he'd say 'why do I always have to empty the bin'!

There were rare occasions that he'd mow the lawn - then everyone would have to spend the next few days admiring it when he pointed it out, several times every single day.

And people wonder why I won't get married (or live with anyone) again hmm

Mishap Wed 08-Oct-14 20:34:13

The important thing is for partners to do what they like doing where possible. My OH likes doing chores and for many years has done the housework and the laundry. I shop (online), iron and cook. We share the admin stuff. Works for us.

The implication in the questionnaire is that chores are bad an no-one wants to do them. OH seems to like it!

absent Wed 08-Oct-14 20:55:29

Some chores may be enjoyable or, at least, satisfying. However, nobody like cleaning out and refilling the cats' litter trays.

Deedaa Wed 08-Oct-14 22:07:17

Anything that needs washing up or recycling is placed neatly on the worktop because "I don't know where all this stuff goes" Well we've only lived in this house for 15 years, I couldn't possibly expect him to have found out yet grin

Purpledaffodil Wed 08-Oct-14 22:18:48

In our early married life we had cats, the division was I dealt with sick and poo, he cleared the little mouse corpses. It worked fine with cats, but seemed less than fair three children laterhmm

kittylester Thu 09-Oct-14 09:05:52

When our children were little, DH dealt with any sick type things and I dealt with poo type things! The one time I had to deal with sick, I added to the problem!

As far as the cats are concerned, I still do the poos and DH deals with any bodies! The reason we probably won't have another dog is because I seem to have been picking up poo for the last forty odd years!

mrsmopp Thu 09-Oct-14 23:53:49

He will wash plates, cups and cutlery but all pans are 'left to soak' in cold water - until I get fed up and do them myself.