Damn, she don’t even help with the laundry?”
That’s what one of my boys said.
And I didn’t have much to say back.
I wasn’t caught off guard.
But I didn’t really feel the way he expected me to.
She was sitting on the couch, relaxed.
We had just eaten. I wanted to do the laundry.
Which was fine by me.
She’s not my wife.
She doesn’t live here.
She works hard, just like I do.
And when she’s here, sometimes she’s just… chilling.
And that’s okay with me.
But after that comment?
I started thinking about the expectations people place on women
Especially when they spend time in a man’s space.
Or the assumptions they make when a man is doing things that don’t “look masculine.”
I’ve never asked her to do my laundry.
I’ve never expected her to play house.
This is my home, my kid, and my life to manage.
And yet…
That one comment made me second-guess something I hadn’t even been thinking about.
It’s funny how quick people are to audit your relationship based on how many dishes are in the sink or who’s folding towels.
You’d think love or a person’s value is measured in chores.
But if I’m being real.
I don’t need someone to do the laundry for me.
I need someone who respects what I do and what I carry.
And someone who chooses to support me in ways that feel good for both of us.
That might mean laundry one day.
Or it might mean nothing more than her presence after a long week.
And honestly, that’s enough.
Or am I wrong… and she should be doing more?
Tell me what you think in the comments, or share your story if you have been in a similar situation.