Mom on STRIKE!

[Deb in IA]

Stay-At-Home Mom Goes on Strike
Stay-At-Home Mom in Indiana Goes on Strike _ Until Her Family Gives Her More Help Around the House
By The Associated Press
The Associated Press

FRANKFORT, Ind. Oct 20, 2005 — A stay-at-home mom is on strike giving up her daily chores until her family gives her more help around the house.

Regina Stevenson, 41, sat on a lawn chair Tuesday on the sidewalk outside her home in Frankfort, 20 miles southeast of Lafayette, with a sign saying "Mom on Strike."

Stevenson has four children, ranging in age from 7 to 19. The youngest three live at home with her and her husband, Dennis, along with their daughter-in-law and grandson.

Stevenson says the large household means doing a lot of laundry, cooking, cleaning and gardening.

"I do everything except bring home the paycheck," she said, crediting her husband for that contribution.

Stevenson said her children are good kids and that her husband keeps odd hours and can't always pitch in.

But she said she wants more help around the house and that she won't be cleaning, cooking or doing other chores until they clean and learn to appreciate her.

"(Stay-at-home moms) are not paid with money, and I think that you should show a little courtesy and respect for what we do," she said.

 

[stinkerbelle]

Wasn't there a movie on Lifetime about this?

 

[ItsonlyExperiment626]

Yep, there was movie about a mother going on strike. The mother was played by one of the sisters on Faith and Hope. It's not Kelly, but the other one.

 

[helenabear]

Too funny!

This always reminds me of our very own LucyStorm though

 

[stinkerbelle]

Yep, there was movie about a mother going on strike. The mother was played by one of the sisters on Faith and Hope. It's not Kelly, but the other one.

YES! That's her! heheh

 

[kasar]

I was going to ask if this was an old story too.

I hope this doesn't turn into a SAHM/Working mom ugly thread, though. Let's discuss but let's keep it upbeat shall we?

 

[SillyMe]

Whether she works or not is not the issue. Her kids are way beyond old enough to be helping out around the house.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Well, I can say as a working mom that working my job outside the home is ALOT easier than staying at home being a SAHM.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I was considering this
but then I figured -- one week and they all run out of clean underwear. The smell starts. Two weeks, the rotting food that hasn't been vacuumed from under the dining room table starts to contribute. Flies start buzzing.

Three weeks, all the food runs out. The smallest would die first. None of the others would bother to pick up his body. Buzzards start circling.

By 6 or 7 weeks, I'd have 4 deaths by starvation, the dogs would probably be feeding off of their carcasses, about 25 loads of laundry, dirty diapers would probably be piled to the ceiling, a house in need of pest control like you wouldn't believe......

and who wants to clean all that up?

 

[hercamore]

Good for her!.

I'd guess the kids are going to be so embarassed by mom picketing on the front lawn that they'll start helping pretty fast, LOL.

herc.

 

[kejoda]

Too funny!

This always reminds me of our very own LucyStorm though

I was thinking about Bonnie too. Tell her hi for me!!!

 

[Tinks]

I was considering this
but then I figured -- one week and they all run out of clean underwear. The smell starts. Two weeks, the rotting food that hasn't been vacuumed from under the dining room table starts to contribute. Flies start buzzing.

Three weeks, all the food runs out. The smallest would die first. None of the others would bother to pick up his body. Buzzards start circling.

By 6 or 7 weeks, I'd have 4 deaths by starvation, the dogs would probably be feeding off of their carcasses, about 25 loads of laundry, dirty diapers would probably be piled to the ceiling, a house in need of pest control like you wouldn't believe......

and who wants to clean all that up?

Oh my stars!!!

To this mom....In the words of Dr. Phil......let me know how that worked for you.....

 

[MsDisney23]

Hope she gets her point across and they all pitch in!

 

[va32h]

Well the children should definitely be doing more of their own housework - as should the daughter in law who is living there presumably for free.

But I'll admit, I don't expect my husband to help around the house. His job is outside the house, mine is in the house; he doesn't ask me to come to his office and do his work, so I don't see why I should expect him to come home and do mine.

 

[EthansMom]

Here's the thing, IMO: You don't wake up one morning and discover that everyone in your entire family does nothing to help keep the place clean and to do household chores. This woman is as much at fault as anyone else because she has spent years letting her kids do whatever they wanted while she took care of them.

My 4 year-old can make his own bed, pick up his toys, put away his clean laundry, and clear his dirty dishes from the dinner table. He didn't suddenly know how to do these things or know that they were his responsibility -- DH and I have taught him how to do all of this stuff.

My SIL's kids can hardly do anything for themselves. I've told her several times, "You need to teach the kids to do stuff for themselves." She never takes my advice.

 

[graygables]

Here's the thing, IMO: You don't wake up one morning and discover that everyone in your entire family does nothing to help keep the place clean and to do household chores. This woman is as much at fault as anyone else because she has spent years letting her kids do whatever they wanted while she took care of them.

My 4 year-old can make his own bed, pick up his toys, put away his clean laundry, and clear his dirty dishes from the dinner table. He didn't suddenly know how to do these things or know that they were his responsibility -- DH and I have taught him how to do all of this stuff.

My SIL's kids can hardly do anything for themselves. I've told her several times, "You need to teach the kids to do stuff for themselves." She never takes my advice.

I also look at the Flylady way, in that I am blessing my family. The more I bless them and they see that it's working, the more they chip in to keep it nicer. It's a long difficult process, but by the time they move out, they'll be able to maintain their own homes. I do not think a strike is an appropriate response and it will only make them respect her less.

 

[disykat]

Thank you, Ethan's Mom, ITA! I can sort of understand wanting to embarrass your family into helping, however to do so would be to advertise your own failure. Publicly going on strike when the same thing could be done privately is just a stunt for attention IMO.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I think it's silly! If you don't think your family is pitching in enough, lay down the law! Her kids are old enough to pick up and do laundry, and if they aren't in school they should be paying rent (if the oldest isn't living at home, who's married to the daughter in law and fathered the kid? And why are they living there?). I think it's just a pathetic way to get attention by calling in the media.