My wife recently “retired,” and now that she’s home all the time, she’s trying to take my jobs from me—cooking, arranging the repairs for house and car, purchasing my clothes, and probably a number of other things. It bothers me. I like doing the things I do, and I have certain tastes in food that I am really the only one that can create. So I’m not sure I like her doing stuff I do. Not only that, but it feels like she’s preparing to be able to do without me, which is weird. I don’t like her planning for my imminent death or divorce, for that matter.
I mean, in theory, I want her to be able to multi-task and to have many capabilities, but at the same time I feel like I’m being put out of business or made redundant. Besides, she may also go back to work, and then all of a sudden I’ll have to take on all this work again. That will kind of make me resentful. I’d rather never give up the work than see it come crashing on down on me some day.
So I guess I don’t find these tasks to be romantic. I think they are more about security and having a place in the world. Yes, a little appreciation here and there is nice. But don’t take away my job. Just don’t do it!