To all of you Martha Stewarts out there, today I want to salute you. Since I've moved into our house, and have pretty much tripled the square footage I'm responsible for maintaining, I'm realizing how far from being a Betty Homemaker I really am. To be completely honest, I didn't do a great job of keeping my apartment in tip top condition either, when I had a fraction of the space. I had all of the excuses in the world: I didn't have enough storage space, no place to do laundry, no dish washer. The list could go on and on. Well, I've run out of excuses. I have plenty of room to store all of my belongings. I have a laundry room equipped with a washer, dryer, utility sink, and even a separate area for the litter box and other kitty necessities. I now have a dishwasher, double sink, and lots of counter space. So what's my problem? My problem is, when I get home from work I don't feel like doing anything. And if I did do something, what I should be doing is working out. And I plan to get back into that routine sometime within the next seven months so that I am comfortable wearing a bathing suit on my honeymoon. But that is neither here nor there. When you get home, work out, and cook dinner, where is the time to do the regular upkeep and cleaning in the house? I try. I really do. I just can't seem to keep up with it all!
I learned a lot about working women and the "second shift" they assume after coming home from working a daytime job and then starting job number two of taking care of their family and keeping up with housework. I know I was impressed and enlightened when I learned about these remarkable women, but I'm even more astounded by this concept now that I have a full time job and a house of my own. I don't even have the kids to take care of and I still can't do it! I can't cook (but I try) and I can't keep up with the housework (but I try). I'm very lucky in the fact that I have a partner who is more than willing to split the housework and split the cooking (let's be honest - I don't think I could marry someone who didn't help and expected me to be the housewife is knows her role in the kitchen and as the maid. And in the spirit of being honest, someone who was looking for a Betty Homemaker, wouldn't want to marry me either!).
So maybe it's all a learning game. A juggle of priorities and time management. If so, maybe there's hope for me yet. And something I can't complete this blog entry without mentioning is the fact that my mom was named the "Betty Homemaker of the Year" recipient in high school. This should be a sign of encouragement and hope for me, right? It's actually not. It's quite scary. They must just hand those awards out! ha ha. I kid, I kid, mom. I've got nothing but love for you.
Speaking of housewives, please read through the following quiz I found online from a newspaper in 1957. Let me know how you do. According to this quiz, I should probably sit down and think long and hard about my relationship with Pat. I don't seem to be serving him well. Wow, thank goodness for the advancement of women over the past 50 years or I would never have a lasting marriage. :)
I learned a lot about working women and the "second shift" they assume after coming home from working a daytime job and then starting job number two of taking care of their family and keeping up with housework. I know I was impressed and enlightened when I learned about these remarkable women, but I'm even more astounded by this concept now that I have a full time job and a house of my own. I don't even have the kids to take care of and I still can't do it! I can't cook (but I try) and I can't keep up with the housework (but I try). I'm very lucky in the fact that I have a partner who is more than willing to split the housework and split the cooking (let's be honest - I don't think I could marry someone who didn't help and expected me to be the housewife is knows her role in the kitchen and as the maid. And in the spirit of being honest, someone who was looking for a Betty Homemaker, wouldn't want to marry me either!).
So maybe it's all a learning game. A juggle of priorities and time management. If so, maybe there's hope for me yet. And something I can't complete this blog entry without mentioning is the fact that my mom was named the "Betty Homemaker of the Year" recipient in high school. This should be a sign of encouragement and hope for me, right? It's actually not. It's quite scary. They must just hand those awards out! ha ha. I kid, I kid, mom. I've got nothing but love for you.
Speaking of housewives, please read through the following quiz I found online from a newspaper in 1957. Let me know how you do. According to this quiz, I should probably sit down and think long and hard about my relationship with Pat. I don't seem to be serving him well. Wow, thank goodness for the advancement of women over the past 50 years or I would never have a lasting marriage. :)
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