I told my husband that if he pays me an hourly rate I will do more housework – now he’s furious with me

A fed-up wife gave her husband the choice of paying her to do the cleaning or letting him take over.

The married couple hired a housekeeper, but the husband thought it was a “waste of money.” They had already agreed that he and the children “didn’t do a great job of keeping the house clean and tidy” while she was at work.

To compromise, she gave him two options, but he didn’t like either and left the conversation upset by claiming she was “financially manipulative.”

The mother is a steam installer making $100 an hour – more than her husband makes as a teacher – and often works 13-hour days.

“I think if he and the kids actually did what they’re supposed to do when I’m away, none of this would be a problem,” she wrote on Reddit.

“My husband is upset because I decided to pay for a cleaning lady…I hated coming home in a mess. It caused a few fights because it was like they expected me to come home and clean up after them,” she began.

“Having her (the housekeeper) is fantastic. I come home to a clean house and I am happier. My children have more time to study and do extracurricular activities. They still have chores to do and are still expected to clean up after themselves.

The husband asked to “reduce” the housekeeping service when his wife is at home and “do more housework.”

“He thinks we’re wasting money. I said I work 14 days straight and they are 13 hour days. Yes, it’s mostly paperwork, but his job as a teacher isn’t much more physically demanding,” she continued.

“I said I could give him two options. If he wanted, we could remove the service altogether and he and the kids could make sure the house was in good shape when I returned. Or he could pay me my hourly rate to do extra housework when I’m off.

The husband was “distraught” and the wife turned to Reddit for advice on what to do next.

Other Redditors erupted in anger in the comments, many dissing the husband for his behavior.

“A relationship is meant to be a two-way street. Your husband seems like he wants you to do all the work without putting in any effort himself. Bad form,” one wrote.

“His pride is hurt because she earns more than him and therefore he is not the provider. If my job means we can have more time for ourselves, let’s do it!” said another.

A third said: “It’s much more about control than cost reduction.” »

“It’s so disgusting how much he likes to take advantage but he tried to make sure his wife didn’t get a break,” someone else said.

Another asked further questions and said: “Does he believe that cleaning is gendered and that is what he is teaching his children and students? I would have a lot of questions about this.

Someone else added: “Um, he’s home, he can clean.” The adult who is at home more cleans more, it’s quite simple.

“Honestly, you shouldn’t have even hired a maid, he should have taken on that duty.” Instead, it’s like he wants the old rules that the wife cleans. We’re past this shit, it’s 2024.’