9/12/2008

Over-Sensitive or Over-Worked?

I was talking to my neighbor last week and she said something that I just can't get over. I know I should. She wasn't trying to make me feel bad. She's a very sweet person. Really. We've bonded a lot while gossiping about the OBs at the practice we both go to (she's a trimester behind me). But as I apologized for my dirty sweats by explaining that I was cleaning that day, she said something that just . . .just BOTHERED me.

She said, "Just make your husband do it. It's too hard to clean when you're pregnant. My husband does all the cleaning now."

This is a woman who does not have a job outside the home. She doesn't even blog! And she's in great shape. And her husband works long hours. And I am so jealous I could spit.

I mean, Hot Guy helps. When he's home. And what he does that's REALLY spectacular is never complain about how messy the house gets. Sometimes he asks for clean underwear (but I want to say - in my defense - is that he's only asking because I haven't put the laundry away, not that I haven't washed it) but that's it. And I took on the cleaning (such as it is) and the laundry when I became a stay-at-home. So it's not like I feel that I have it so tough.

But still, not having to clean for the next 8 weeks would be so AWESOME. Is it normal for men to take over the cleaning when their wives are pregnant? Have I been gypped? Should I invite my neighbor's husband over and flaunt my belly at him?

7 comments:

Kristen said...

That is so not normal for husbands to take over the cleaning duties...Or at least it wasn't in my case. One time, I staggered out of the bathroom and told my husband I just couldn't finish cleaning the bathroom right then because I kept puking and having to clean it up. He just patted me on the back and said "Aww. Maybe you'll feel more up to it, tomorrow." . Sweet, huh?

Karly said...

Are you freakin' kidding me? There are men out there who CLEAN? Amazing!

All kidding aside, no. My husband didn't help clean. AND I worked part time! He didn't complain about messes though either...I would have punched him if he had.

Jill said...

This is what you do. Tell him you can pick up and vacuum, but he has to do all the work with chemicals. That way he'll have to do the bathrooms, windows and all the mopping.

Hopefully he won't just go out and buy some "green" cleaning products.

Good luck.

P.S. I still had to try to keep the house up to hubby's standards when I was pregnant, so I can't guarantee this will work.

Jen in MI said...

D helped when I asked. He didn't take over. The best part, though, was we moved when I was 7 mos. pregnant, and I didn't have to carry anything heavier than a few lbs. That was awesome!

Anglophile Football Fanatic said...

When I was on bedrest I was still the one cleaning. Puppy is a bigger mess than the child.

Anglophile Football Fanatic said...

When I was on bedrest I was still the one cleaning. Puppy is a bigger mess than the child.

Jen in MI said...

D helped when I asked. He didn't take over. The best part, though, was we moved when I was 7 mos. pregnant, and I didn't have to carry anything heavier than a few lbs. That was awesome!