A woman was so keen to ensure that her husband pulled his weight when they had children that she made him sign a ‘chore contract’ – and many others wish they’d done the same
In a relationship, there’s often someone who pulls their weight a little more when it comes to household chores – and that’s why one woman decided to make her husband sign a “chore contract” before they had a baby together.
Mum of three @claraloveslife said that when she found out she was pregnant with her first child, she made her husband sign a chore contract, urging people to “do the same”. In the caption, she explained: “I had seen enough to know that we needed a clear understanding of what was about to happen and what responsibilities fall on whom”, and many praised her for being so upfront.
She said: “Let me explain. Before I had my kids I had been around enough women to understand the problems that they’re facing in their marriages when the children trickle into the equation. I had been listening, so when I found out that I was pregnant, I took my notepad, I took my pen, I came downstairs […] and I was like we need to talk.”
Clara said that she wanted to make her husband “understand” the things that he’d been required to do when the baby arrived, as she said women should stop “assuming” that men know what’s expected of them when they’re going to be a dad.
“We don’t know what we’re doing! Fathers don’t know what they’re doing”, she exclaimed, continuing: “I know one thing though, the chores are gonna elevate, so I was like uh-uh, we need to have the conversation – sign the contract”.
Clara then explained that she asked her husband to “write down the things that you feel you can do”, and they agreed that one of them would bathe their baby in the morning, and the other would do the same thing at night. He said he would iron if she washed, and they decided that Clara would “cook Monday to Friday”, and he would do it at the weekend. He also said he would “clean the bathrooms”, and she seemed thrilled at the prospect of not having to do that particular chore.
She then said that she and her husband had “stuck to the contract”, but they’d made “adjustments” along the way, such as negotiating birthdays. Clara then shared she’d been with her husband for 23 years, saying that it’s not “kept them together” by having a contract, but it’s “definitely helped”. She then ended the video by saying there’s no point in writing a contract if you “won’t stick to it”, but she urged people to “stick to it though”.
In the comments, many praised her, highlighting how important it is for couples to share the household work. One wrote: “I needed this video two years ago”, with another penning: “Have conversations throughout. Find out what they believe a good boyfriend is when you first start dating, a good husband before getting engaged and a good father before kids. Truly eye-opening!” “Healthy”, someone commented.
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