How do you divide up household chores when spouse/kids are involved? Is the woman still expected to do it all?

Answer 1

Hell no baby. You should NOT have to do everything. How many times do I gotta tell people that this is 2007 ... not 1953.

Answer 2

I am a full time homemaker, my husband works 80+ hours per week, and we have 5 kids - 14, 12, 11, 8, 5. The 14 and 5 year old are with us all of the time. I do the majority of housework, as I have more time to do it, and there are some things an adult is just going to do better than a teen. We have a dry erase board in our mudroom, and the chores are divided there. The 14 year old is required daily to clean his room,
help with the dishes, take out the trash, and once a week help with the yardwork. The 5 year old of course is really only required right now to keep his room picked up. When we have all 5, there are more chores divided up, because there is A LOT more work that goes into keeping a house together with that many kids running around.
Not to mention that the 14 year old has a full basketball schedule for most of the year, and I take him, attend, take him home from all his games.

I will also add that my husband is a HUGE help. When he comes in at night, or on his day off, if there is something that needs to be done, it gets right in there and does it. He doesn't ask, question, or complain. He says he likes helping out, because no matter what, he lives there too, and he understands that I am running around all day cleaning, cooking, washing, ironing, running kids to games and friends houses, playing, breaking up sibling spats, ETC.

We are an equal and understanding household, I understand this is rare - but it can happen.

Answer 3

If you do it all now, you will still be doing it all later.
Divide up the chores within the family. Just make sure that you give the kids chores that are age appropriate and chores that you know that they can accomplish without your complete assistance. Your husband can take out the trash or something before he sits for the night. It makes running a house easier and less stressful and teaches the kids responsibility. It might encourage them if you can afford a small allowance but with or without that, it is valuable to split the chores.

Answer 4

Of course not. The kids should be expected to do chores on a regular basis and when asked and the husband should be setting a good example. When anyone gets locked into a mode where they feel like a servant, then discussion should take place about changing it. Some activities should be defined as cooperative at times - like filling and emptying the dishwasher. Anyone who can cook should be encouraged to do so, but everybody should be involved in setting the table and doing serving like pouring beverages, bringing plates or food to the table, etc. Laundry should start with learning to sort clothes by color and other cleaning needs and hanging and folding the dryed clothes and returning them to drawers, closets and storage.
I hate it when cleaning is considered to be a major task where everything has to be done all at once. It should be broken down into subtasks and kids should be given directed cleaning jobs like "Take everything off those 4 feet of shelves, clean the shelves, and put back what belongs there."

Answer 5

If your kids are old enough to do things on their own, then no, the woman shouldn't be expected to do everything! Kids should be taught responsibility at a young age and giving them chores will help achieve that goal. Give age-appropriate chores to your kids. It is always helpful to give chores that they don't mind doing, as well as things that they should be doing regardless. And whatever else they don't do, you can pick that up. Good luck!

Answer 6

I think there are a lot of variables to consider. Does she work, are the kids involved in activities and how important is it that they be involved, does he work, do one or both parents have careers as opposed to jobs, etc. Depending on everything considered there are a lot of ways to divide things up. Just has to feel fair to the ones involved.

Answer 7

my husband works, i stay at home, so i do the majority of the cleaning etc. but he washes up after dinner and baths the girls, i do his his sandwiches, then when kids in bed we can both have a rest. at the weekend we both help each other. also my kids who are 16,8,5 and 2 all tidy up there own mess. (well the younger ones try). looking after the kids is a full time job so you need to ask for help, even if its just he washes up.

Answer 8

If the man is working 2 jobs, one with overtime. cares for the lawn, cars, helps with the kids when he can. yes, she should if she's at home 24/7.

Answer 9

i dont know how you do things at your house but at my house when the wife is at work, we work different shifts. i do the dishes, vacuum laundry whatever it takes. then when i am at work she does the same things its all give and take. not fair for you to do all chores when other people help make the messes.

Answer 10

The greatest aphrodisiac for a woman is watching her husband doing the housework...