Were you brought up with the ideals...

Women cook and clean... men mow the yard and fix things,
women take care of the kids... men go to work at a paying job,
women are not done with their day until kids are in bed... men finish their day when they walk in the door at home?

that's about it, breezey,the roles were clear cut !! and i supose for the time it made sense, but not anymore.also grandparents used to baby sit, no such thing as child care then.

The part that always got me was... dad worked and is tired, so his day is done when he punches that time clock. What makes anyone think mom wasn't just as tired?

In some ways... I see how having clear cut chores established was good, but what if there were three men (dad and two boys) and only one woman (mom)?

it may have been clear cut breezey, but fair ....not. the whole issue of paid/unpaid work,the low status of 'house wife' as they say, a womans work is never done,especially in large families.and yes, i had 4 brothers ,and resented the fact i was the only who had to wash dishes etc... no wonder i turned into a raving womens liber !!!
when i was married i worked most of the time, some times full time sometimes casual, but the greatest majority of the cooking/cleaning ..etc....was still up to me .i think a lot of couples now share more of those responsibilities.
however, there was no such thing as confusion over the roles EXPECTED from men and women.that worked in my favour when my kids were little and i was home with them.i can't imagine not being there for at least the first 4-5 years of their lives.

Roxanna, you said it well. I don't think there is much I can add to that.

I also agree about being home with the kids. So... still something good about all that crap? [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]