Division of Labor

The Pres, in her condescending tone, always proclaimed that she did everything.  I have to say that that really pissed me off.  When I was offered a promotion that required me to travel 60 miles each way to work, she was the one who encouraged me to take the opportunity to climb the corporate ladder.  I had concerns about having to leave earlier in the morning, and getting home later in the evenings, but she assured me that we would work things out. 

It’s funny how less than a year later, she did everything.  Despite the fact that I came home after a twelve hour day and either did the dishes after supper or bathed the kids, she did everything.  Despite the fact that I maintained the yard on a weekly basis and maintained the house on a daily basis, she did everything. 

I read stories to the kids at bedtime, but she did everything.  I did homework with the kids on a regular basis, but she did everything.  All this lead me to question, “What the hell is everything, and what the hell is all the stuff I do?  Is it nothing?”  How can you bust your ass for sixteen hours a day and do nothing?

As aggravating as this little paradox was, when she told me one Saturday as I was doing the weekly yard work that I got to do whatever I wanted to do, that had to take the cake.  Only the Pres could make doing yard work for four hours sound like going out to a night club.  God forgive me for being out doing “whatever I wanted.”  Did I mention that she paid all the bills? 

Yeah, according to the Pres, if you write the check, you have paid the bill.  She apparently forgot why I went to work all those days.  Hint: It’s called a paycheck.  I never accused the Pres of not doing her share.  She was employed, and she did manage the checking account.  When she complained, I offered to take over that responsibility, but that would have meant relinquishing control over the finances, which is something the Pres would never do.