I never feel guilt. DH’s job is a lot easier (and less demanding) than mine. I just happen to not get paid and have to put in a lot more than 5 or 6 hours 4 or 5 days a week.
Lewreader, I like having the television on for background noise when I’m cleaning. I tend toward news and sitcoms, but my point is that it makes the chore seem to go faster. So, knowing what was said on a talk show does not mean she isn’t working. Psychologists say women multitask much better than men.
I have a hard time doing housework with the T.V. on. It really distracts me, I’d much rather have the radio on. I get a little workout too, I like bopping to the music. Until I see my son standing there shaking his head at me. (red-faced).
She should require John to fix dinner when he gets home, and clean the kitchen after they are done. He should also offer to do the other chores like the laundry, and cleaning.
A proper husband wouldn’t let his wife feel that guilt. The wife should always be in charge, and enjoy the role.
Elly, don’t become bad habit to carry Lizzie on your back everyday. Lizzie needs to learn how to walk with her legs. Don’t let her rely on habit to carry on your back, Elly. Or you will be suffered with your back problem. :-/ tch!
Iris, “she works 24 hours a day”? John only wishes he was permitted to “work” as hard around the pool as Elly is doing. But it is her privilege to be allowed to relax like this. She just needs to forget the guilt and let John fix the dinners after he gets home from the office.
I don’t get it. So, what, she should stay inside with the curtains drawn all day and not take joy in the good weather with her kids when she can, just because her husband is at work? :/ She can’t allow herself to take a little time to relax if her husband isn’t there? What I’m getting from this is that John makes her feel very insecure about being a SAHM, and she feels like she can’t justify herself unless she’s scrubbing and cooking 24/7. This is unhealthy. John needs to respect her work, and she needs to be secure enough with herself to be able to take the time to stop and enjoy life. This is the first time we’ve seen her happy in a long time, and it shouldn’t be making her feel guilty.
I felt guilty (for one whole day) that I didn’t have my hubby’s dinner ready to eat when he arrived home for work. This was shortly after the birth of our first child. (When we were both employed, he cooked dinner, since he got home first.) My MIL had let me know that a “proper” wife would have dinner ready to eat when her husband arrived home from work. Our son (who was not colicky) threw a fit while I was trying to cook, and I couldn’t hold him safely while stirring food on the hot burner. After that experience, I learned that it was better to pass the children over to Daddy while I cooked. It gave them sometime to bond, and I could concentrate on cooking.
Too many times we hold ourselves up to unrealistic expectations, and then feel guilty when we can’t live up to them.
Seems to me that she said that to Anne on purpose to motivate her to get up and go home. She actually has a nice pleasant look on her face in all four panels.
Why should either of them feel guilty – they’re still watching kids and presumably changing dipes & feeding etc. Just because they get to do it in a pleasant setting doesn’t mean it isn’t work. But that was the image women fought to overcome 30 years ago.
newworldmozart said: I have a hard time doing housework with the T.V. on. It really distracts me, I’d much rather have the radio on. I get a little workout too, I like bopping to the music. Until I see my son standing there shaking his head at me. (red-faced).
I’m with you there on that one. I can’t clean the house if I’m watching t.v. and I can’t watch t.v. if I’m cleaning the house! The radio or a c.d. playing definitely makes the time seem to go faster while offering less distractions at the same time.
alviebird over 14 years ago
Lizzie is still on her back, I see.
ejcapulet over 14 years ago
There’s a good reason I’m always nice to my husband when he comes home. His boss is a nightmare and I sure don’t need to make things worse.
cdward over 14 years ago
On whole, I’m guessing everyone has their burdens and their little delights. It’s all good as long as nobody gets into the “poor me” mode.
cdward over 14 years ago
Oh and thebird55, at least Lizzie’s not in that backpack - which means the rides on Mom’s back will be shorter and less frequent.
mcveinot over 14 years ago
I never feel guilt. DH’s job is a lot easier (and less demanding) than mine. I just happen to not get paid and have to put in a lot more than 5 or 6 hours 4 or 5 days a week.
lewisbower over 14 years ago
I would believe how hard she works if she didn’t tell me what happened on Oprah/ Dr Phil/Dr Oz. TV, Work?
notinksanymore over 14 years ago
Lewreader, I like having the television on for background noise when I’m cleaning. I tend toward news and sitcoms, but my point is that it makes the chore seem to go faster. So, knowing what was said on a talk show does not mean she isn’t working. Psychologists say women multitask much better than men.
newworldmozart over 14 years ago
I have a hard time doing housework with the T.V. on. It really distracts me, I’d much rather have the radio on. I get a little workout too, I like bopping to the music. Until I see my son standing there shaking his head at me. (red-faced).
gaebie over 14 years ago
She should require John to fix dinner when he gets home, and clean the kitchen after they are done. He should also offer to do the other chores like the laundry, and cleaning.
A proper husband wouldn’t let his wife feel that guilt. The wife should always be in charge, and enjoy the role.
Wildmustang1262 over 14 years ago
Elly, don’t become bad habit to carry Lizzie on your back everyday. Lizzie needs to learn how to walk with her legs. Don’t let her rely on habit to carry on your back, Elly. Or you will be suffered with your back problem. :-/ tch!
doit over 14 years ago
Guilt about WHAT? He works 8 hours a day, she works 24 hours a day.
gaebie over 14 years ago
Iris, “she works 24 hours a day”? John only wishes he was permitted to “work” as hard around the pool as Elly is doing. But it is her privilege to be allowed to relax like this. She just needs to forget the guilt and let John fix the dinners after he gets home from the office.
eocene over 14 years ago
I don’t get it. So, what, she should stay inside with the curtains drawn all day and not take joy in the good weather with her kids when she can, just because her husband is at work? :/ She can’t allow herself to take a little time to relax if her husband isn’t there? What I’m getting from this is that John makes her feel very insecure about being a SAHM, and she feels like she can’t justify herself unless she’s scrubbing and cooking 24/7. This is unhealthy. John needs to respect her work, and she needs to be secure enough with herself to be able to take the time to stop and enjoy life. This is the first time we’ve seen her happy in a long time, and it shouldn’t be making her feel guilty.
Smiley Rmom over 14 years ago
I felt guilty (for one whole day) that I didn’t have my hubby’s dinner ready to eat when he arrived home for work. This was shortly after the birth of our first child. (When we were both employed, he cooked dinner, since he got home first.) My MIL had let me know that a “proper” wife would have dinner ready to eat when her husband arrived home from work. Our son (who was not colicky) threw a fit while I was trying to cook, and I couldn’t hold him safely while stirring food on the hot burner. After that experience, I learned that it was better to pass the children over to Daddy while I cooked. It gave them sometime to bond, and I could concentrate on cooking. Too many times we hold ourselves up to unrealistic expectations, and then feel guilty when we can’t live up to them.
W6BXQ, John over 14 years ago
Seems to me that she said that to Anne on purpose to motivate her to get up and go home. She actually has a nice pleasant look on her face in all four panels.
alviebird over 14 years ago
I think you are right. She doesn’t look like she really feels guilty to me.
lindz.coop Premium Member over 14 years ago
Why should either of them feel guilty – they’re still watching kids and presumably changing dipes & feeding etc. Just because they get to do it in a pleasant setting doesn’t mean it isn’t work. But that was the image women fought to overcome 30 years ago.
Gretchen's Mom over 14 years ago
newworldmozart said: I have a hard time doing housework with the T.V. on. It really distracts me, I’d much rather have the radio on. I get a little workout too, I like bopping to the music. Until I see my son standing there shaking his head at me. (red-faced).
I’m with you there on that one. I can’t clean the house if I’m watching t.v. and I can’t watch t.v. if I’m cleaning the house! The radio or a c.d. playing definitely makes the time seem to go faster while offering less distractions at the same time.