Family contract

The firstborn of Jane and Tom Maxwell appeared in the fifth year of their marriage. Before this event Jane had worked as a secretary for a law company. Her job was well paid and suited Jane perfectly as she had an opportunity to make important decisions and to have business trips.

Tom, her husband, the chief executive [9]of a commercial enterprise, was happy that his wife had a good job. Jane enjoyed being a part of business world. Their life could be called quite normal. They shared their chores in such a way: Jane usually did some cooking (except the rare cases when Tom concocted [10]in the kitchen himself), did the laundry, tidied up the house. Tom played the role of Jack-of-all-trades [11], he did some repairing, cut the lawn, gave their two cars washing. At least twice a week they invited their friends or clients to dinner or to a sherry party. On those occasions they did all the cleaning, cooking and shopping together.

With the appearance of Jimmy, their firstborn, Jane did not leave her work of a secretary and decided to be engaged some hours a day. She easily coped with her household chores and felt excellent.

Three years later their second child Suzan came to the world. The couple decided that Jane would leave the work and wholly devote herself to the household and the children.

Two years passed. More and more often Jane felt that she quickly got tired and irritated. She was sick and tired of her housework. To tell the truth she had inconsistent feelings. On the one hand she was longing to work, on the other hand, looking at her small Suzan she realized how much she had lost in Jimmy’s upbringing. It was clear to her that she had to forget about work.

One evening Jane and Tom decided to discuss the situation. Jane’s tiredness turned to appear because of excessive load [12]. If before their children appeared she used to only cook and wash, now she had much more things to do: she had to wake up early, quickly feed the children, put them into the car and take Jimmy to the kindergarten. Then she returned home, woke her husband up, cooked him breakfast, while he was shaving and taking a shower. After she sent him to his work she began tidying the house. Then she brought Jimmy from the kindergarten and took children to the doctor. She also had to cook supper, wash children before Tom returned home (he came at 6.30) in order he could play with the children before they go to bed.

Jane asked Tom with tears in her eyes ‘why my position must be worse than yours only because I am not a breadwinner? Why can’t I have as much spare time as you have? Even at weekends my schedule is the same. You play golf, sit at the terrace reading while I keep working.’

‘Indeed, I agree with you, - answered Tom – It’s not fair. Let’s share all the chores’.

And so appeared the “contract” in the family of Maxwells ….

b. Now answer the questions:

1. How did Tom and Jane share the chores in the first years of their marriage?

2. How did the situation change in some years?

3. Was the couple happy?

4. What decision did they make to change the situation?

5. Is it a fair decision in your opinion?

@c. Think over the content of the contract. Suppose how Tom and Jane could divide the household duties. Don’t forget about their free time. Write your proposals in the columns:

Tom’s duties

Jane’s duties

Дата добавления: 2015-10-24