by Crystal Busby

Created on: April 17, 2010

Is sharing housework between husbands and wives the key to a successful marriage?

Sharing the housework with hubby is not the key to a successful marriage but is a critical factor in strengthening the relationship between man and wife. When a husband and wife share the responsibilities within the household it allows for mutual respect of one another’s contributions and has the added benefit of splitting up the dirty work in lieu of one person being responsible for everything.

It all begins at housework and through chores a marriage can improve togetherness and allow for a feeling of freedom. I know these ideas in the same sentence seem as opposite as night and day, but by exercising compromise and teamwork one can build a trust that is greater than that of a best friend. Through cooperation a marriage can be propelled forward, leaving meaningless arguments about “who forgot to do the dishes” behind, making way for real growth. A team effort is an idea that is easily and readily grasped by men and is a much appreciated concept for women.

In my own household we practice this idea on a daily basis and I have personally reaped the benefits from this system, and can honestly say that it definitely works! My husband and I have our list of to do’s and as a rule although we are aware of what needs to be done and who needs to execute the work, we NEVER tell the other when or what to do. We live with the understanding that we are both competent adults and are fully aware of our responsibilities; therefore we avoid fights by simply allowing the other to complete their chores when desired as long as the job gets done by the end of the day. We are not any different from any other married couple in that we have jobs which require long hours, errands that need to be run on a daily basis and schedules that cannot be moved, but we find time to do our equal share of the housework and are the better for it!

Sharing the household chores is the best way to gain an appreciation for the unappreciated mate in a relationship and a wonderful way to become the supportive and loving spouse that your significant other has always dreamt of. Romance for many women is not always flower petals and candles but can be conveyed by the simple gesture of vacuuming the living room. There is nothing more refreshing at the end of the day than a clean house! Being able to go to sleep at night without the added stress of being solely accountable for the orderliness of your home is enough to make anyone sleep like a baby. Like anything else in life, cooperation is the key, and if a husband and wife are able to come to an understanding on an issue such as housework, have confidence in knowing that there is nothing that the marriage cannot survive.

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