Domesticity
A Vignette
By Maryanne Peters
I love to cook. I learned how to when I was laid off and my wife Jane became the principal breadwinner.
“Let me keep house for a bit,” I told her. “I will keep looking for a job, but until I get one there is plenty I can do at home.”
It turned out that there is plenty to do, and that does not give time for job hunting.
Jane could also be demanding. She works hard and likes to come home to a clean house and a good meal, and her clothes washed and pressed. I can do all of that, and learn to enjoy it.
I am not even sure how the female clothes came into the picture. I think it was just that I was getting together with some of the other housewives in the neighborhood and the discussion turned to sewing, and they set up a sewing group. I found out that was something else that I could do, and making clothes for Jane was something I could do for her.
The first thing I made for myself was supposed to be a shirt, but somehow it turned into a shirt dress. It was just such a wonderful item of clothing to wear around the house – so simple and so comfortable that it was liberating to not have to wear pants. It is my preferred domestic attire. I now make all my own clothes, and aprons too.
When you work at home conscientiously, you don’t have time to get a haircut. My hair just grew down to my shoulders, over a few months. I just need to use clips or a slide to keep it out of my face – but something nice.
The earrings were a gift from Jane. She said that they were a joke, but they do look good, and I feel that some who spend all their time at home forget about the importance of looking good. It is not even a neutral look, I know it, but it is consistent. Consistency and tidiness are things I value.
And then came the heels and the hormones and the lipstick. It was all rather confusing, but somehow it all seemed to fit.
Please don’t think for a minute that I am saying that domesticity is a female thing. I don’t think that there is anything wrong with a man taking on the traditional housewife role. I suppose that I am just a traditional sort of person. I believe that the breadwinner needs to be fully supported, and that a stay-at-home wife has duties. I mean, a stay-at-home partner that is.
The End
© Maryanne Peters 2023
Comments
Been there, Done that
But not quite to that degree. I know lots of men who tended the home fires while the missus paid the rent. It is not at all that rare.
Ron
A Woman's Work
I always get mad when I hear "A Woman's Work" or "A Woman's Role". This is the 21st century and stay at home male partners are nothing to be ashamed of or ridicule. Equality means we can make our lives work however feels best and if it means a male is at home tending the children while a woman forges a career then thats fine by me! Same gender couples can do it so why not mixed gender. Another lovely vignette, Marryanne - giving us a lovely "amuse-bouche" of a story that tastes great and leaves us hungry for the next one !!
Hugs and Kudos!
Suzi
A stay at home partner
Did not need to transition, methinks there is more to this story than is told.