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When we both worked, we did things like going to the laundromat together. I maintained the cars, but I was too busy to notice what the house looked like, for the most part. My wife had a job that allowed a flexible schedule.
After the kids came along, she quit her job without asking or telling me. At that point, I took over the bills, because I discovered that it seems to be much more pleasurable for some people to spend money that other people earned.
She got the housework. She also maintains some rental property that we have, and she does a damn good job of it. Basically, anything that requires running around during the day is her bailiwick.
I work in a job that requires me to be there every day without fail. It's very difficult to call in sick, because the place can't function without me. Time off needs to be submitted weeks in advance. (Like I did today, Woohoo!)
My job is so all-consuming, with work that I bring home, that I pay someone else to maintain the cars, yard, etc. I don't cook, but I bring home food frequently when she can use a break.
Because both of us recognize that our standard of living would take a serious hit if I couldn't devote myself to my job as much, our system works for us. I consider our assets to have been almost equally earned by the two of us. Maybe I should explain that statement--I was able to provide the capital and expertise to provide seed money for our income stream, but her efforts have been responsible for a great deal of that seed's growth. When we got together, I had an education but pretty much nothing else. So if someone asked for percentage of responsibility for our current state of affairs, I'd give 50% to each of us.
I also think the kids have greatly benefited from having a full-time mom. That seems to be quite a privilege these days.
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"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."
Margaret Thatcher
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