Man vs. Woman

For millennia there have been disagreements between men and women.  I am sure that when caveman Bob tracked mud into his prehistoric hut after hanging out with the guys hunting for food all day, his cavewoman Nancy was none to happy with him.  “How come I have to stay home with the kids while you are out with the ‘boys’ all day long?”  To which I am sure he answers…”Me man, you woman!” And that was that.  A division of duties was drawn as early as then.  So as time passed and we became more sophisticated, things changed among the sexes right?  Nope.  Men still define their roles by administering to their “manly” tasks and females theirs.

 As I mentioned in a previous article, in our house we do divide up chores and there’s usually no problems. But notice how I said, “in our house.”  Outside of our house is a totally different ball of yarn.  I don’t believe that mowing the lawn falls under my category of household duties.  Mulching, weeding and trimming of the yard require operating heavy machinery that I don’t know how to use (and frankly, I have no desire to learn how to do it).  This upsets my husband, who believes in the equality of the sexes and feels that women can tend to these chores just as effectively as men do.  He spends practically 3 hours a week tending to the yard under the burning sun and wants a reprieve. He’s tried to show me how the mower works and I feign an injured wrist.  He demonstrated the proper way to hold the gas powered weekwacker and I begin a slight limp. I think he’s caught on when my limp changes from foot to foot.  Even my children, who love and adore him, and usually accompany him outdoors won’t dare make an appearance when it’s time to mow the grass (for fear he’ll ask to help push the mower).    It’s like a ghost town out in the yard and he’s all alone.  It’s not that I don’t like helping my husband.  Rather, I feel that this is something he should do for our household and end of conversation.  Just when I think I finally get him to see my point our lovely neighbor pulls out the lawnmower and proceeds to mow the grass for her husband who’s not home yet.  She has stated that she loves mowing and never minds it.  At this point I can feel my husbands stare and hear his silent words screaming at me. “She can do it, why can’t you!?” 

The other touchy subject is of course taking out the trash.  My dad always, always took out the garbage in my house when I was a child.  So naturally, I assumed my husband would take on that unloved chore in our home.  While he’s done so, he doesn’t miss an opportunity to express how much he hates it! We have many times debated  why I’m unwilling take out the garbage. It’s simple…I think it’s a man’s job. Caveman Bob said so millennia ago!   

 Now don’t fret reader, my husband and I truly have a great relationship.  Please don’t think we argue incessantly over unpleasant matters/chores, it’s not like that.  And I do feel for the men out there who have to perform these various tasks, but it’s got to get done!

So  ladies and gentlemen, if I’m not alone in this age old argument over who does the lawn and garbage duties, give a shout out I would love to hear from you! Plus, I think my husband has caught on to my “injured” excuses and I could use new material.