I am a stay at home mum and it was my Tuesday night. I was in my nightey wearing thongs. I was not 'at the office' but I was still working.
Last night my hubby lamented that he did not get to take off his work shoes until 10pm at night. He had attended his hobby group last night after work and baby bath time. The tetchy discussion came up in regards to a small amount of left over dishes to hand wash. Who should do it? The paid worker who didn't have couch time until 10pm or the stay at home mum who hit the couch at 7.30pm but had cooked the healthy, tasty dinner.
Of course, this little discussion ran through my mind a few times during the day. It raises questions of family responsibilities. Today I caught up with a mate for coffee and cake. During this 1.5hr catch up, I changed a pooey nappy, provided rice cakes and avo, water, breastmilk and toys for entertainment. I held baby down to prevent her nose diving from high chair. Afterwards I walked baby around the block, and then sat in the car in a supermarket car park for 45 minutes whilst she finished her nap. Was I working?
This morning, before my Hubby arrived at work after his hour long commute, I had fed baby breast milk and break fast, fed dog, fed self, changed nappy, emptied dishwasher, put on load of washing, folded laundry, made bed. Was I working harder or just hanging at home?
I know my partner works hard. As he is a feminist, I have no need to make this about gender. This is about thinking through the workload of the stay at home parent. Today I cancelled my cleaner for monetary reasons. She has been coming fortnightly for the last few months (following The Fleas Episode) to attend to the basics - floors, bathrooms, dusting. Ironically I need a part time job to keep her, but my time to apply for jobs decreases with an increase in domestic jobs. Lovely cleaner - please come back!!
This only my fourth blog. How to end off? Ummm, parenthood; tough but rewarding?? Ummm, I'm a feminist; get me outta here??!! :)
