I manage the house so he can focus on his job

laura lIGhTBODy, 37, lives in Shropshire with husband Tyrone, 35, a hospital doctor, and their five children aged seven, five, four, two and nine months. She says:

SINCE leaving my career almost five years ago to become a housewife, my marriage and family life have been magically transformed. I fought against it at first, after we had our first two children. We’d always planned to have five kids and I was adamant I’d be the ultimate modern woman and juggle family with my career. But the reality of attempting to do that was awful. Both exhausted from work, Tyrone and I would argue about everything from who was making dinner to who was most tired. The house was a mess, there was no routine and I felt guilty because I wasn’t being the parent, employee or partner I wanted to be — or anything near the homemaker my own mum was. Increasingly I reflected on that, and when I was pregnant with our third child Tyrone and I agreed enough was enough. After working out our finances we made the choice that I’d become a traditional housewife and it’s been liberating as we now have two clearly defined roles.

My job is managing the home and our children, removing all of that stress so Tyrone can focus on his career.

I take my job very seriously, including devising a weekly meal plan of homecooked food so that there’s something nutritious on the table for my husband and children each evening. I have a wall planner detailing Tyrone’s shifts and the children’s activities. Our once chaotic home is a well-oiled machine. Tyrone arrives home to a calm house and the evenings are ours to enjoy.

Although he’s the breadwinner, he respects my input and we discuss financial decisions and make them together. As a couple we’re happier and more respectful of each other than we’ve ever been.

But it’s important to me that Tyrone also gets to see me as a woman, not just a housewife and mother. I take pride in my appearance, wear light make-up, and do my hair.

We make a point of going out for dinner occasionally and I make a big effort then to wear stylish clothes and just be me again.

People said to me: ‘You’ll be bored!’ But how can it be a waste to invest time in my husband and children? True feminism is about choice and, as a Tradwife, that’s what I have.