This article confirmed what I've been suspecting for years: I am the slacker.
The gist of the article was this: working men and women, more or less work the same. (of course, I was settling arguments over waiting-room toys, so my comprehension may be lacking) On average men work more slightly more "paid" time and women work slightly more "unpaid" time. Basically men are more involved in family life then ever before, and more "moms" are working. So the division of work, combining it all, is even. The article goes on to say that the only clear "winners" are stay-at-home moms. Stay-at-homes work less now than they did in 1965, because socially, men are expected to be more involved at home....bonus!
Stay-at-home moms have more "leisure" time, but did admit that an hour of reading by yourself, is different than an hour of reading while you are breaking up fights or finding missing Lego's every 15 minutes. Also going out to lunch with your kids and your friends kids, is not the same as going out to lunch with just your friends. The article also suggested that keeping the kids/family on schedule and planning meals, knowing the location of ingredients in the refrigerator adds a level of stress, that cleaning a toilet doesn't add. And I would also like to add, that the first hour of childcare is much easier than the 12th. Does that make sense?
Chief works a lot. He leaves at what we call "oh-dark-thirty" and isn't home till the boys' bedtime most days. On the weekends, he does odd-jobs around the house, spends time with the boys, and often takes a well-deserved nap.
I think he most-certainly works more than I do.....even without the vacuuming. But he also didn't spend the last 20 minutes cleaning play-doh out from under fingernails.....or explaining a "light-year".
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