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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

For thinking getting excited about houswork is a bit sad?

22 replies

MutantPubicCrabs · 08/09/2011 11:25

Last week before the kids went back t school a number of people (all women) said to me "oh i can't wait for the kids to go back to school!" they then followed it up with comments such as:

"I'll be able to get through my ironing pile finally! I can't wait!"
"I'm going to get all my windows washed and the kitchen floor!"
"I'll be able to get all the bedrooms tidied!"

And they're so excited about it! isn't this really bloody sad? Do people actually look forward to housework??

OP posts:

NodsSmilesandBacksAway · 08/09/2011 11:26

why couldnt you wash a kitchen floor when kids are home

Original poster

MutantPubicCrabs · 08/09/2011 11:28

God knows! if I ever get to the stage where washing the kitchen floor is the highlight of my life then kill me, someone.

OP posts:

Bonsoir · 08/09/2011 11:29

YABVU - they aren't getting excited about the execution of the tasks but about their completion. People (especially women) really like having nice clean tidy homes!

SybilBeddows · 08/09/2011 11:33

what Bonsoir said.

and it's not that difficult to work out why having kids at home might make it harder to wash the kitchen floor, is it?

Ragwort · 08/09/2011 11:35

I might have said something like that - what I really mean is time to Mumsnet all day but would be ashamed to admit it !

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 08/09/2011 12:17

YANBU but I kinda see where they are coming from. Doing housework whilst the kids are off is a bit like polishing a turd

purpleturtle · 08/09/2011 12:20

Bonsoir has it.

YABU

ripstheirthroatoutliveupstairs · 08/09/2011 12:22

YANBU IMO. Housework bores me whether DD is at home or not. I've had four days to do the ironing pile. This morning I halfheartedly did four t.shirts.

itisnearlysummer · 08/09/2011 12:22

I am guilty of having said that.

But largely because I stood back one day last week and looked proudly at my gleaming kitchen that had previously looked like a squat and went into the dining room where my DCs had been nicely and quietly making junk modelling dragons and whilst their results were pretty cool, the devastation left in their wake left me feeling like I wanted to start wiping skirting boards down!

It's not that you can't do the stuff when the children are there, just that 1) it doesn't last long enough to make the effort worth it 2) it's more fun to be doing stuff with the kids.

I'm certainly no clean freak but the stuff to do was beginning to irk a little!

dragontalk · 08/09/2011 12:24

It's just small talk...they don't mean that housework really is the highlight of their lives. It's like exchanging observations on the weather - no one really cares but talking about stuff everyone can relate to is comforting and creates the social bonds. Plus, it IS lovely having a tidy house empty of kids - space to think and be yourself.

Callisto · 08/09/2011 12:25

I'm with the OP. I find housework incredibly boring and would never, under any circumstances look forward to doing it, or even its completion. It is very, very sad that the only thing these women have to look forward to now their children are back at school is fucking cleaning the house.

SybilBeddows · 08/09/2011 12:26

I think any job, whether work or home, can hang over you in a way that means you look forward to finally getting it out of the way, it's not unique to housework and can be the case even if the job itself is boring.
Especially if people keep asking you if you've done it yet ('When are you going to finish marking those dissertations, Professor X?' 'Where's my ironed shirt, Mum?')

NodsSmilesandBacksAway · 08/09/2011 12:29

you say to kid, oi stay out the kitchen Ive washed the floor - else i'll whack you. If kid too young to understand, bung them in a playpen/cardboard box for half hour

job done :)

JaneBennet · 08/09/2011 12:39

It's a bit like the 'I can't wait for the end of term' conversations we all had in June. Something to talk about at the school gates. I was very lost on Tuesday without the DC, even though I had loads of work (and housework) to do!

halcyondays · 08/09/2011 12:45

YABU. It doesn't sound like they're excited about doing housework, they're just looking forward to being able to get things done in peace, without constant interruptions, followed by a peaceful cup of tea.

missmogwi · 08/09/2011 12:49

I think most people say things like that when what they really mean is "I'm going to show the front room a duster then drink tea, go on MN and talk to the cat all day"

Or maybe it's just me. In my hovel.

grumblinalong · 08/09/2011 12:57

YABU.

I look forward to doing housework because my house is a shit tip the majority of the time, it is nice to get some time to do it, and I feel better if it's clean. If that makes me sad shoot me.

I'll always remember my lecturer friend patronising telling me that wanting a tidy house is 'such a working class attribute, the middle class have more interesting stuff to be getting on with.' Lovely sentiment there

Bonsoir · 08/09/2011 14:22

At the end of the summer term I was fed up to the back teeth of the school run and all the engagements throughout the day that meant we all lived by the clock. It was nice to take life easy.

At the end of the summer holiday I am fed up with playing and want to get my house in order - redecorating, buying some new furniture etc.

It's quite normal to want a change!

Catsdontcare · 08/09/2011 14:46

I agree with bonsoir has said. I hate housework but now the children are back at school I can get on top of it again. It's not difficult to do jobs with children around but during the holidays I prefer to let the house slide and enjoy the time with them so by the end of six weeks everything is in dire need of some organising!

theoldtrout01876 · 08/09/2011 23:58

I get very very excited about cooking
But not housework,on that front Im proudly domestically challenged :o
I dont do it if the kids are at home or not only do it when I really really have to

Soups · 09/09/2011 00:54

Agree with other posters who say that it's just chit chat, I don't think they're really jumping up and down with excitement. I had a couple of weeks at home with the children this summer and whilst we did keep the place hygienic and regularly tidied up, it was never that tidy for long. There was little point wiping the grubby paw marks off the wall, but they irritated.

I've had a few days with them back at school before I start work again. It's kinda nice that they put all their toys away before bed, floors are cleaned, then it stays that way for a while. I've spent a little time sorting through some of that crap that has built up. The smudgy paw prints are the kids and dp's job this weekend.

That reminds me of a conversation I had with my dp when I returned to work, it wasn't only 50% of the regular daily houseshite he'd be doing. Yes a couple of times a year YOU, yes YOU, will have to go through that room, wardrobe, kids room (with them), clear it out of the crap, decide where the good stuff should go. YOU will also need to look around and think about what does need to be done, all by yourself, you're 40, you will do it.

I've done similar all my working life, you have some down time and decide to catch up on those boring, crappy "house keeping" jobs that get sidelined. Yes, they are chatted about by the coffee machine.

bakeyouhappy · 09/09/2011 04:36

I would much rather spend the day with my kids than do chores.
I also like having kids as an excuse for not doing chores.
I am woman and I do not care for 'tidy home' bullshit. Its clean, lived in, comfortable. But I don't iron.
I think its a silly thing to say.
Yanbu

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