Cooking and Cleaning and Laundry Oh My!

I grew up in a household in which my dad did most of the cooking and cleaning all while working 2 jobs to provide for a wife and 4 kids.  I can't discredit my mom though (or she'll get upset lol) because she did do her share of the household duties.  But I mainly remember my dad taking on the majority of the household responsibilities. After a long day of school for us kids and a long day of work for my mom, we would all come home to beds that had been made, clean rooms, a  spotless house, and dinner on the table.  My dad completed all these tasks before he left to go to his evening job in which he worked 4pm-12am.  As we grew up, of course my dad stopped cleaning our rooms but he continued to cook and keep the house clean.

I don't remember us having very many chores at all.  Needless to say, this resulted in what some may call very "spoiled" children lol.  Some people, including my husband, say that I am the most spoiled out of all of us.  I beg to differ!  Although I can say that I enjoy things being done for me, but hey who doesn't?! Before I got married, I would always say that I wanted a man like my dad.  One that would work and provide for me and do all of the cooking and cleaning while I set back, kicked my heels up and watched television.  Oh the joy!  But being married gave me a reality check and my previous way of thinking was tossed out of the window.  Since I've been married I've cooked, cleaned, and done more laundry than I ever have in my life!!! My husband is great because he helps out with all three.  Especially with the laundry because he says that he's better at doing the laundry than me lol.

What changed my way of thinking was the fact that my husband works extremely hard to provide for our family.   I wouldn't dare allow him to come home to a filthy house and no dinner.  And on his days off I like for him to just sit back and recuperate because he does very physical work.  Every now and then I'll ask him to cook  but I take on most of the household responsibilities.  Do I always enjoy doing it...no.  Most days when I get home I'm exhausted and just want to relax in front of tv.  Do I enjoy making my husband happy...YES!  So regardless of how tired I am I somehow am able to muster up the energy to make sure the house is clean and make sure hubby has some food.

It wasn't until I was married that I realized how much work it takes to keep up a household.  It can be exhausting, especially when you're leaving from chasing behind toddlers all day.  Even when I'm at work, I'm planning in my head what needs to be done when I get off.  I'm constantly online looking for recipes and I've never been to the grocery store this much in my life!! I did learn that I'm a pretty decent cook (I guess I get that from dad...sorry mom lol).  Although I do find all of this to be exhausting & overwhelming at times and I never would've thought in a million years that I would be a domestic, but what I do keeps my husband happy and that's all that matters.  Now when we begin to have children I think I'm gonna need help lol.  Taking care of my husband is enough.  I can't imagine how much more cooking, cleaning, and laundry I'll have to do once the children come. Oh my!  I think I'll be getting tips from my friend the "The All-American Mom" (she knows who she is lol) ;-)

With Gallons of Love,

J.G.