Who does most of the household chores in your house?

Question

Cooking
Cleaning
Dishes
Taking out trash
Grocery shopping
Laundry
Yardwork
Etc.

Do you do it all; or do you have help?

My family seems to think that because I do not work (for health reasons) I should do it all!
I am able to do most things just not the heavy work due to my illness.
My family seems to think that since I am home all day and they are off to work, I should have to do all the work "because after all they work hard all day long".

I think since they live here too; they could it least help!

BTW, by family I mean my husband and my 26 year old daughter who's living at home temporarily.

Please tell me what you think?

Answer 1

it should be an equal split. my husband works a very physically demanding job and I work a mentally demanding job, we split the chores. I cook and shop, he cleans up after dinner, I clean the house basically because I want it done a specific way. he helps me with laundry. it's about equal. it shouldn't be left to just one person.

Answer 2

My mother is a stay at home mommy and she does the cooking, cleaning and laundry. My father does the dishes, takes out the trash, grocery shopping and yard work. I do laundry and help clean, help with yardwork (huge yard, it's usually a family effort!) when I'm around (I'm 23, work and go to school) and my brother (17) won't even wash his own dishes!
My point is, even though my mom is the only one home all day and DOES do a lot, she doesn't, and is not expected to do, everything. I'd probably do as much as I could because I go crazy if I'm sitting still too long, but that's just me.
Your family clearly doesn't realize how hard housework is if they say they don't do anything because they work all day long. I know I'd rather sit here at my desk all day than do 4 loads of laundry, clean the house top to bottom and prepare dinner like my mother is doing right now. It is back breaking work and no one should have to do it all alone! Mothers can be very underappreciated! Just because you're not bringing home a paycheck doesn't mean you're not busting your tail! I'm sitting in my office surfing the 'net on my downtime and I know my mom is probably home up to her ears in laundry. Who's working?

Answer 3

I've been "unemployed" for just over a year now, and I do most all of the chores in the house, plus the outside too. I do have some help from my husband, if it's too difficult for me, but I do all the cooking & major cleaning. We have two children who have their chores too, basic cleaning up after themselves, like in the bathroom after getting ready for school, for example, and my son (age 14) is now washing his own clothes, changing his bed sheets, etc. They need some responsibility, cause I won't be around forever!
Since I don't financially contribute to our family, I do feel it's my job to keep things going around here. But there is nothing wrong with others in your household having enough respect & responsibility to help out......especially a 26 year old!
I don't work now because of illness also, and used to do it ALL, before dividing up the chores, and it was killing me!
Why don't you ask for help? Make a list of what needs doing, and put a name next to it....they live there too! They have to take care of where they live, don't they? that's what I did! Once, I stopped doing anything at all...didn't wash the dishes, didn't do laundry, didn't cook, shop, didn't empty the trash, or clean the toilets.....when people don't have anything to eat, or any clean clothes to wear, you'd be suprised to find out that they really are capable of doing it themselves!

Answer 4

My hubby and I share alot of the housework, though we both work full-time too. Though when he is laid-off more often he tends to do more then I...because well he is home and I am at work. Trash duty and yard-work is primarily my husbands duty, though I help occasionally. I would definitely make your daughter pick up her own slack around the house too, it wouldn't hurt for her to chip in and do the dishes and some laundry (even if it's just switching out the loads and helping you fold) etc. especially if she is living there rent free? Being a house-wife is a fulltime job, and you should get some assistance from others that live in your household especially if you do the majority of the work!! Best of luck :)

Answer 5

My boyfriend does most of the work because he works from home and is there all of the time. I work part-time and go to college full-time, so I don't have much time to do many chores. However, I do keep up with my own stuff like laundry and picking up random things lying around. I try to help when I have a day off or free time, though.

Answer 6

I'm a teenager and I do the hoovering, I wash the dishes in the morning and at lunch, and dry the dinner dishes. (We don't have a dishwasher.) I'm responsible for cleaning my mirrors and hanging out the clothes. My younger sister, a year younger than me, cleans our 3 bathrooms and dries the dishes. My brother and father do nothing. My Mom does everything else - i.e. food shopping, gardening, cooking, laundry, etc, etc.

And my opinion? Your husband and daughter do go out to work, so I think they should do a little each day, such as cooking the evening meal. But as you do stay at home all day, I think you should do the majority. They are the breadwinners, after all!

Answer 7

I too do not work because of back problems (surgeries) so, I'm the house keeper. I do everything except, take out the trash and empty the kitty litter box. My husband also helps with vacuuming and sweeping. These are too hard for me to do.
I think that if you are unable to do certain things then some else should do them. If you have a grown daughter she should help. If she had her own place she'd have to do it, why not when she's with you? I also think hubby should pitch in.

Answer 8

Well, when I was at home my family separated the chores. My mom did Grocery shopping, my dad cooked and did the hard stuff, and my brother and I split the other chores like laundry and cleaning. We all had a lot of help. You shouldn't be doing all the work and especially not the heavy work since your family sounds like they are plenty capable. Split it up evenly and if that doesn't work, stop doing the hard/important work for them until they agree to help. :)

Answer 9

What a perfect question. My question to you, "Do you live in my house?. I too do not work, out on disability (med). My children (19,21,22) all live with me and do absolutely nothing. They feel that me being home all day, doing nothing, means I should do all that there is to do, including cleaning up any mess or dishes etc that they may have left. If I tell them I am not their maid, they just say, we work all day what do you do? This question is just funny, I am soooo glad to hear someone else has this same problem. I am solving the problem, I put my house up for sale and will go to another state. My kids will have to learn to care/clean up after themselves and stop bashing me. Good luck and keep your chin up. Sorry I dont know how to help you as you can see I am in the same boat.

Answer 10

You've got a healthy husband and a healthy daughter. Yes, they work hard all day, but you are ill, and you work just as hard as they do. Therefore, they should help. My husband is 79 and had 2 major surgeries 3 years ago, either of which should have killed him. He can't do much, but he delivers newspapers with help, and he can make coffee, take care of his own clothes (other than laundry) and clear the table after meals. I am 64 and disabled, but I do everything else that gets done, other than yard work. We have to hire that done. You've got a couple of lazy slobs on your hands, sorry to say.

Answer 11

Your daughter is a grown woman and needs to be doing for herself. Just because you guys are allowing her to live with you temporarily, does not mean she needs to revert back to 12 years old.

I work outside of the home, so my husband and I share the chores. Actually, he does most of the cooking because he gets off a couple of hours before I do.

I believe that if a woman stays home, then she should handle most of the chores around the house. But if you have physical limitations, then your husband needs to be helping out, too. It's not going to hurt him to help. Also, your daughter should be ashamed of herself for not helping you and expecting you to take care of her, too.

Just don't do it all. They WILL help, I can promise you that.