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House and home

"I don't have that problem"

(62 Posts)
maryhoffman37 Wed 20-Sept-17 10:13:51

My husband and I were still in bed, listening to the radio at about 6.30am when we heard an item on the Today programme that made us both gasp. A man was being interviewed about a a new gadget called Google glasses and John Humphreys asked him if he could walk down the street ordering his shopping. The man - I didn't catch his name - replied "Well, I'm married so I don't have that problem." There was a sharp intake of breath from both of us and I asked, "is this the 21st century?" What do you think? Is shopping still "a wife's job"?

GrannyJan9 Thu 21-Sept-17 23:33:45

OH and I go together to do weekly shop,,, and enjoy it ( mostly) although it takes a while what with checking all the labels, special offers etc! Mind we are both retired... we divide most tasks around the house but my problem is we married late and both used to do our own cleaning now we both "think" the other is doing it and so neither of us does ^ sneezzzzzes.. atttishoooo! :-)

Saggi Fri 22-Sept-17 06:37:33

Well maryhoffma37 .. my husband certainly thinks real shopping is 'women's work'. If for a couple of days I happen to be laid -up'... I suffer sometimes with my back. (2 prolapsed disks) which aggravate the sciatica.. he becomes very agitated when asked to fetch milk or bread. He does fetch the milk and bread along with ( and this is his idea of 'food' ) two chocolate bars.. for him as I can't stand the stuff.. tub of ice-cream, ditto can't stand the stuff... two packs of Bourbon biscuits... ( like eating cardboard)... two cream cakes....a railway magazine ( him)...and a bottle whiskey! This is his standard shopping list! I suppose the whiskey is his way of treating himself for the overpowering hardship of fetching the milk and bread. Oh... and to top it all, his idea of women being 'laid-up' is .... if you are well enough to eat it... you are well enough to cook it!! I know...should've dumped him years ago..hey-ho !!

123kitty Fri 22-Sept-17 08:42:37

I love shopping, even grocery shopping, so of course I always do it. DH loves mowing the lawns, I never offer to help. Occasionally things just work (not often- so make the most of it!)

illtellhim Fri 22-Sept-17 10:41:55

Hi FarNorth, yes that's the thread I meant, I didn't realise that you could advertise so blatantly on GN but I now know that they own them both so I suppose that makes it all right.

narrowboatnan Tue 26-Sept-17 13:40:39

My DH always does the 'big' food shop. It takes him for ever as he likes to browse and compare products for value for money. When I do it I set off with the list and shop 'supermarket sweep' style. Any other sort of shopping - the sort that involves buying books, clothes or shoes - I prefer to do alone because he gets bored after the first five minutes and tuts and sighs.

HillyN Wed 27-Sept-17 00:28:29

Shopping is definitely a 2-person job in our house. He gets the bags out of the boot while I collect the trolley. We take a side of the aisle each (OH leans on the trolley because of his knees). At the checkout I put items on the conveyor belt and he packs them into the trolley bags when they've been scanned. I turn the trolley towards the door while he pays, then we lift each bag into the boot together. I take the trolley back to the entrance while he drives the car round to pick me up. Fortnightly shop done in under an hour!

MissAdventure Wed 27-Sept-17 00:33:51

Team work! smile

BBbevan Wed 27-Sept-17 07:03:53

We have always shopped together. Like many DHs on here mine is apt to wander, usually with the trolley. Since he is a little (!) deaf I often whistle at home to tell him tea is ready etc. Once in Sainsburys ,I lost him, and forgetting where I was whistled. Three men appeared!

FarNorth Wed 27-Sept-17 08:08:57

Saggi I hope he has a few redeeming points? He sounds a selfish a***!

loopyloo Wed 27-Sept-17 08:19:41

I think men are hard wired to think that food prep, cleaning, child care are done by women. What must it be like to drift through life with food just appearing when you need it.
Have to say DH likes easy prepared stuff, ready meals and icecream. No idea what healthy food is.
I think we have only just been the battle.

FarNorth Wed 27-Sept-17 08:37:51

I once mused what it must be like to be royalty and have meals, clean clothes, clean & tidy living accommodation all magically being provided.
Then I realised that many men enjoy exactly that. envy