Storm in a teacup: Would you get a divorce over the washing up?
Hayley Garbutt, 52, first dated Maurice, 55, in her 20s, when they had a daughter. They’ve been back together for a decade, married for six years. They live in Filey, North Yorkshire. She says: hen Maurice and I Sometimes I reach the end chores should fall to women. moved in together we of my tether and tell him. That But I’m not sure how I will agreed that, as we both work, leads to arguments. He claims ever convince Maurice...’ we’d cook on alternate nights. my standards are too high and
Seven years down the line, he could never meet them. he has made me just three I did once go on strike and meals – and two of them were refuse to make his dinner. when we had guests! But his mum and grandma
I start work at 7.30am every did everything for him – and weekday, and finish at 2.30pm, he thinks women are better and spend the two-and-a-half at washing, ironing, cooking hours before Maurice gets and cleaning. home cleaning, hoovering – My mum used to say ‘a we have a messy parrot and woman should look after her two dogs, that I walk – and man’ and I must have absorbed doing laundry. that, subconsciously.
The first thing he says when he But we live in the 21st century comes home is: ‘What’s for tea?’ so there is no reason all the
‘During lockdown I painted our whole house and any time I’m not at work Hayley finds jobs for me, from replacing the hot tub filter to building a kennel for our dogs.
I’m old-school and happier doing that sort of thing. Also, Hayley has very high standards. Whenever I do try to help, she says I haven’t done it right and does it again. So, what’s the point?’