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It's Your Turn
Phil Hogan is none too happy about the division of labour in his household ...
"Have you done your fish? Brushed your teeth?"
"Daaad ..."
"Teeth, fish..."
"Dad, do I have to?"
I wouldn't mind but we're only talking about a pinch of 'sawdust' in the tank. He doesn't have to change the water, or ask him whether he's got any plans for the weekend.
I have to admit, I'm not a perfect role model. The car needs a brake light and a wiper blade at the back, and it hasn't had a wash since the World Cup. My other job is putting the bin out on Wednesdays...
The hardest thing, I think, is sharing domestic responsibilities, which all began when women started to flood the employment market, leaving men to do half the housework. OK, some of the hoovering. And men found themselves describing the person they lived with as 'my partner' instead of, say, 'the little woman', which some people think sounds demeaning.
'Partner' means a relationhip of equals in the eye of the law... of... household drudgery. It means both of you somehow being in charge of toilet cleaning. And what that means is men are supposed to notice that something requires a spot of Mr. Muscle before women do. Which can be a problem, for complex, aesthetic reasons - namely, that what looks disgusting to one person - say a woman - can still seem perfectly serviceable to the person she's married to.
When we had our fourth child, my own partner - who for tax reason I call the person I'm married to - gave up half the responsibility of earning money to spend more time cleaning up after everyone, while I go out to work and pay all the bills. Which only leaves our shared burden of reminding the children of their responsibilities ...
"Have you done your fish? Brushed your teeth?"
"Daaad ..."
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