To feel like a damsel in distress.

[FortyDoorsToNowhere]

I am not very practical at all, I do try but I fail every time.

For example at Christmas time DS had a foose ball table less than 20 parts, very clear instruction and only 8 screws. I tried for 2 hours and DH came along with in 10 minutes he put it together no problem.

The same with DD dolls house.

I am banned from the drill after trying to put a shelf and taking down a lot of plaster.

I feel like I am letting the female sex down.

You sound a bit like my DP! But I'm pretty sure he doesn't feel he's letting his entire sex down! Nobody's good at everything, but if it bothers you, work at getting better at it!

You're letting yourself down, don't worry about other females who you don't know.

But only because you have a defeatist attitude

Rome wasn't built in a day and nor were dolls houses and football tables

Get yourself on a DIY course or seek out some handy youtube tutorials.

It's okay. I failed at parallel-parking my car with at least 3 car length's room in between two cars the other day. The white van man driver in the car behind kept laughing at me; I could see him doing so in the rear-view mirror

I had to give up in the end and park around the corner to avoid the white van man.

It's so frustrating and DH makes it look easy.

I'm not at all practical either, I can't build up things, I can't park and I can't read maps

Yeah, easy for him because it's something he can do well. How many things can you do we'll and better than him?

Different people are good at different things, for example DH can't render for toffee, and plastering isn't great. But then I couldn't strip and re-assemble a motor. He can't cook by sight (ie put ingredients in until they look right) but he is far better at frying and cooked breakfasts.

The problem would occur if you were both crap at the same things!

i once drove 10 miles on a flat tyre so dh could change it
burnt out some sort of balance or equaliser in the engine, cost £900 to replace!

i once drove 30 miles at 70 miles an hour, on a motorway with my handbreak on. only realised because of the stench of burning rubber!

'Well' obvs.

Truth be told it's only cooking I am better at and form filling.

I wouldn't worry about it, my OH is not allowed anywhere near my tools. He brought me back a brand new jigsaw (not the puzzle) from the local boot fair once, was beaming as he knew I'd love it. Some of us take up the slack on behalf of the girls that can't.

DH does love DIY, it does make me think what I would do without him.

You'll do fuck all without him unless you learn to do what he does

It's the same with men who say they can't cook or work a washing machine

Of course they can, unless they're going to give up at the first few hurdles

Practise makes perfect

You'll do fuck all without him unless you learn to do what he does

That is very true.

Agree with Worra Unless you empower yourself regardless of gender you'll be dependent on others.

IMO cooking and washing are daily things so you're good at those but DIY isn't an 'every day thing'

So it's clear why you couldn't do the task - because you're not used to it, it's not part of your everyday life

Do you want to go on a DIY course OP?

Btw in my opinion it really doesn't matter that you had to ask your dh to complete it. It doesn't define you you know?

Life is too short and DIY is fecking boring

Don't beat yourself up

I'm good at some things, DH is good at others. Sometimes what we excel at and fail at follows the stereotypical assumptions about genders.

I'm happy with that, the so called feminists will be the ones trying to make out this is a problem. I have no time for others who see fit to belittle anyone or project my individual strengths and weaknesses as their business. I am who I am and am happy to be me.

I earn my own money and can pay people to do the things I can't which feels sufficiently empowered to me

As it happens DH does loads but without him I'd just hire people.

My only damsel moment was after I kicked my ex out and couldn't reach to change any lightbulbs. I had a ONS with a tall guy and in the morning got him to do it. He found it very amusing, I thought it was a sensible solution.

Please note that I'm not suggesting sluttery as a long term solution!

Don't worry about it! Some people are better at things than others. This is not about gender!

My DH can cook, as can I. He can wallpaper, I cannot. He is learning more about DIY as he enjoys it. I don't, and if I didn't have him then I'd have to pay someone to do these things.

My mother has always outsourced her ironing as she hates it and is terrible at it- is she letting the sisterhood down too? Similarly I have friends who are crap cooks, who rely on takeaways or simple foods like jacket potatoes. Do you care whether these friends are male or female? Does it matter?

Waitingforme cold you not have stood on a chair?

I am not good at some things but being single has made me learn to do things that I never thought I would do and quite enjoy them