In the Smith family, roles were traditionally divided. The husband worked and provided for the family, earning around £10,000, while the wife had a part-time job for personal fulfillment and experience. She managed the majority of household and parenting duties. There was always a hot meal ready, tidy floors, and neatly folded clothes in the wardrobes. Their child was well-behaved, clean, and doing well in school. Things like crafting projects that were due yesterday didn’t concern the husband. He came home to relax, and this arrangement suited everyone just fine until one day when the harmony was disrupted.
The shift began when the wife decided she wanted a new bed. The old one had been a wedding gift purchased 11 years ago. Over time, the mattress had worn out, the headboard was wobbly, and the bed creaked in ways that probably weren’t suitable for the neighbors to hear, especially the younger ones. So, she subtly broached the topic of buying a new bed.
You know how the saying goes—if the husband is the head, the wife is the neck. But in this case, Mr. Smith decided not to be swayed by his wife’s suggestion. He saw through her “tactics” and made it clear that she had her own salary and should buy the bed herself or at least contribute half. After all, she’d been spending on things like manicures and hair styling and then expecting him to cover the cost of a new bed. He said it was time for her to contribute more, as she had it too easy living with everything readily available.
This idea—that his wife lived off him—began to take root in Mr. Smith’s mind. Maybe it was always there, but the bed issue brought it to the forefront. Or perhaps someone had been whispering in his ear that he was working tirelessly while his wife conserved her energy and spent her salary on frivolous things. Either way, the wife began hearing complaints about how easy she had it and that she wasn’t contributing enough. Mr. Smith said it wasn’t fair and proposed she cover 30% of the household budget, as she was getting too comfortable.
The wife was hurt but agreed to this system, with one condition: Mr. Smith would now take on 30% of the housework. Fair is fair, right? Mr. Smith was relieved it was settled so easily, and they began this new arrangement.
The wife handed over nearly all her salary to the shared account, leaving just enough for her and the child’s meals and transport. When Mr. Smith came home, he’d find them fed and happy, but there was no dinner for him. Where’s dinner? he asked. She explained that cooking is part of the 30% of tasks she took on, so while she fed herself and the child, he’d have to make his own meal. There were even groceries in the fridge, so she wasn’t being petty. Mr. Smith made himself eggs and reflected on the situation.
Things escalated from there. The wife put Mr. Smith’s clothes in the wash and used the right settings but left them for him to hang up and iron. He loves his shirts perfectly ironed, though many people don’t even bother with that these days. In the end, instead of fresh clothes, he found a smelly pile in the washing machine and was thoroughly flummoxed.
In short, Mr. Smith struggled with the division of responsibilities. His finances only slightly improved, but the amount of unexpected tasks and challenges seemed to multiply. He grew frustrated and even talked about divorce. Meanwhile, the wife considered she might be better off without the extra burden of Mr. Smith, despite having to tighten her budget. She’d forego salon pedicures since they were partly for him anyway, and she could easily do them herself. Living on her salary alone wouldn’t be so bad, and she could work full-time, as she’d been offered.
The once-close Smith family now stood at the brink of separation. The wife wondered about the point of having a husband if she had to cover everything, while the husband felt unappreciated, despite working himself to the bone (in an office job, no less). Yet, he found himself unprepared for 30% equality in household duties.
