Women - know your limits

I cannot bear silly articles like that. What kind of moron lets their DH/DP and DCs get away with treating her like that?

I have often left DP and the DSSs to go away with DD, and I know that the house will be
tidy when I return, and the washing done. It might not have been cleaned to within an inch of its life, but there will be nothing gruesome about it.

I was just wondering if her husband has special needs or something? Then the help would be understandable, but surely a healthy grown-up can manage to feed himself and his kids for a weekend? I have often been on business trips without - gasp, horror! - leaving my DH a "list of helpful tips" and so far everybody has survived..

and heck, if I come home to a few days worth of lunchboxes in the hall, I should still "thank him" for "making this possible"? Huh?

Thanks sprogger!

End of May. So looong way to go. First few weeks haven't been fab. but I'm feeling mostly better now.The passing out on the couch at 9:30 is getting old though.

That's great - childless MNer no more eh? When are you due?

Thanks! Gosh, I feel I've been announcing it all over MN! I can feel less embarrassed about first pregnancy obsession now if you hadn't noticed!

I didn't know you were pregnant Bling! Congratulations :)

Evil - DH and I are developing a theory. He keeps telling me he is so sorry that he's not experiencing the discomfort of pregnancy with me. But we've realised it's a blessing he isn't because as a result he's doing even more than he usually does and is generally looking after me even more than normal - cooking, cleaning, cat-feeding, endless cups of tea....

So our theory is that nature knows women find pregnancy hard so men are supposed to be all strong and hardcore. Sadly, most men think it's just because women are pathetic and that they can continue to swan around assuming that pregnancy and parenthood is mostly the woman's responsibility.

I am thankful for DH and his attitude every single day.

would love to see the article in reverse. "Before you go away for your friend's stag weekend please ensure that your wife and family have plenty of food in the fridge, and that your children have their clothes laid out for the next three days."

I sometimes wonder if people slept through biology and are under the impression that children are something women have all by themselves.

Back to the article - the constant references to how lucky she is and how grateful to get some time off irritated me too. FGS, just because she's a mother does that mean she's not allowed to do anything that doesn't involve her DC?

My dp has just started looking after the kids full-time and dresses them FAR better than I ever have done - I am a slob and as long as they've got something clean and warm on I honestly couldn't give a monkeys if it matches, he really cares about having them look nice.

I just let DD dress herself.

Her dad tends to send her home in brand new clothes if she'd gone out in something more crazy than usual!

Argh, just posted and lost it.

Was trying to say that DH hates the 'dad can't dress the kids' sterotype. Some men struggle, sure, but many more do fine. The outfits he assembles for the DC are far more stylish than what I normally pull together.

Complete with king tut style head dress I might add :)

I wouldn't mind if ds was dressed as an ancient Egyptian, but clothes that actually fit him would be nice, are appropriate for the weather and vaguely match would be nice...

AliceWorld :) I certainly could never lose ds - his favourite outfit at the moment is lime green shorts and a long mustard coloured indian shirt (ohh my eyes!!)

You know that's precisely what I was thinking but I put it down to me not being the greatest at working out what matches for myself!

I really don't get the dressing thing - as long as ds is dressed and the clothes are clean (well at least were when he initally put them on) I don't care....but then I was greeted at a train station with ds dressed as an Ancient Egyptian the other day on his insistance!

sethstark I nearly forgot about my halloween name

'dressed by Dad' is the phrase used in our house. I don't know what goes on in dh's head but am very glad ds is now seven and more in control of what he wears. Dh seems to be unable to tell which clothes actually fit - have had days where I've come home to discover ds in far-too-small tops and far-too-large trousers, or swimming shorts (with no pants) and a jumper, or completely clashing colours and patterns.

Worst thing is, dh keeps attempting to buy clothes for ds, and ALWAYS buys then at least two sizes too big. He's got it into his head that ds is tall. This is true. But he is seven - it may be worth trying age eight, but not age 10, fgs.

The he goes round to his Mum's and brings home some of his nephew's old clothes for ds. Which are always at least size 'four years older than ds is'. And not my cup of tea, either. WHY does dh not realise 'Oh, I've never seen ds in clothes featuring Marvel comics characters before, I wonder why that is?'

Apart from that, yes, men are perfectly capable of housework and childcare.