What is Life? I’m not getting philosophical, I’m thinking of comparing the difference in work/life balance between partners or spouses. In that equation, life is the variable that needs to be solved.
Does “life” include housework and child care? Do the hours worked by A equal the hours worked by B including childcare or housework? For any couple trying to do the fair thing, these are important questions.
There seems to be an assumption that the higher-earning spouse shouldn’t be doing as much housework or child care as the other spouse. This assumption has been passed on from generation to generation since women entered the workforce, conspicuously similar across nearly every marriage. And this is the type of thing that gets passed down generations.
Texas A&M posted something about a study that examined gender roles and housework. It was disheartening to see this semi-unspoken rule about equality — that some work is more equal than other work — already distorting the minds of young people.
“…most college students believe women should have equal opportunities to work outside the home to men, but the majority of household chores and childcare needs should still be met by women — though it’s okay for men to help with these tasks.”
Some people have sought to counteract this mindset by being strong money mentors to their kids. Topics like compounding interest don’t appear organically in most kids’ routines, so it’s great to supplement their schooling with real world examples — compounding interest in particular allows for some great hypotheticals.
In my last article I talked about all the hidden milestones to financial literacy, but there is more to financial security than just finances. Kids need to be inspired to be savers, etc., and sometimes that’s more easily accomplished with a fresh face. If your selection of fresh faces is wearing thin, there is always the option to get professional help.
For more information about money mentoring, contact us.
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