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Tuesday 9 October 2018

Life | The Mental Load

Source: skitterphoto.com


A few months ago someone shared a post on Facebook entitled "The Mental Load" and when I read it I couldn't believe how relatable it was, in fact, I shared it and when Pete saw it he laughed. I don't know why he laughed because it's actually scarily accurate. You see, I think men think they do more than they actually do.

The mental load describes how women are expected to run the household, work a job and look after the kids, while the men don't do these things unless asked. But who's asking women to do these things? Why don't the men in our lives know what needs to be done around the house unless they've been nagged at by their missus?

Another week has come around when I've come home from work to dirty dishes sprawled across every kitchen surface, the dishwasher still full of clean dishes to be put away and last night's pots and pans have been left on the draining board. I'm pissed off. All weekend whilst Pete is away, I manage to keep on top of the housework, take both boys out and cook for myself and the kids. Yet I go to work for a day and Pete "doesn't have time" to empty the dishwasher and keep things clean and tidy meaning I have to come home from a full day at work, clean the kitchen, cook dinner and share bed time with the boys. 

I have whinged, complained, moaned, shouted more times than I can count but all to no avail. Nothing ever changes. It stays the same. It's got to a point now where I just think I'm going to have to put up or shut up but at the same time I'm thinking why the hell should I? We both live here. We both work. We both should share the responsibilities. Reliving the same argument over and over is incredibly frustrating but I'm exhausted. And yes maybe I should ask him to do things because he doesn't think to do them himself, but I'm stubborn and I don't think I should have to. It's a bit like having a third child sometimes. 


I'm going on strike.

Rachael xo