This Lockdown Will Change My Relationship With My Husband Forever…

The year 2020 has been life-changing for many of us. Some of us have started a new hobby. Some have got back to reading. Some of us have set goals to achieve a healthier and fit body by starting to workout. And others have taken to cooking and baking. Since we all are stuck at home, it is wise to utilize this time to our benefit. But truth be told, there are days when I get frustrated for not being able to hang out with my friends. I miss shopping, eating out, and watching movies. I simply miss being able to go out without worrying about touching anywhere or holding anything and sanitizing my hands over ten times when I’m outside. I’m sure we all have days when we feel blessed to be healthy and safe, but on some other days, our anxiety and frustration get the better of us.

As part of my staying-at-home resolutions, I had decided to catch up with all of my friends with whom I had lost touch. So when I rang up one of my closest friends from college, I came to an important realization—how much this lockdown has impacted marriage and relationships.

This Lockdown Will Change My Relationship With My Husband Forever…
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As soon as I heard my friend’s voice, I realized that she was feeling a bit low. But when you are a working mom with a husband and 3 kids, there are bound to be some crazy days. She answered the phone when she was rolling chapatis for her kids and sounded frustrated. I could hear her toddler’s cry in the background. Realizing that I had called her on one of the bad days or perhaps a bad time, I asked her if I should hang up and call another time. She however assured me that we can continue speaking. So, in an attempt to cheer her up, I told her how I’ve been working out lately since I don’t wanna be like one of those people in the meme who’ll gain 10 kgs after quarantine. She gave me a nonchalant “Hmm.” So I dived right into the question that was looming over me ever since I made my phone call. “Hey, how are things at your end? You sound a bit off. “I had expected her to tell me how she is sick of staying at home all the time and miss going to the office and meeting other people. But to my surprise, she responded with, “This lockdown will change my relationship with my husband forever.”

This Lockdown Will Change My Relationship With My Husband Forever…
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Image: Shutterstock

When I asked her what’s wrong, she told me how despite both of them being working parents, she is always the one who is expected to do all the cooking and cleaning in the house. She said, “Sure, my husband helps out occasionally by offering to bathe my toddler or wash the dishes. And I appreciate it. But shouldn’t the responsibilities be shared equally in a relationship like ours where both of us are working a 9 to 5 job? Why is it that the woman in the house is expected to wake up early in the morning, do the cleaning, cooking, and laundry and feel blessed if we have a partner who shoulders a quarter of the parenting responsibilities?”

Suddenly I remembered the news I heard earlier about how the lockdown will bring about a spike in the divorce rates. Though I had let out a small laugh when I first heard it, it didn’t seem funny anymore.

This Lockdown Will Change My Relationship With My Husband Forever…
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Image: Shutterstock

The truth is that our culture has ruined men to such an extent that women feel hopeless to even raise their issues and talk about it more openly. Our mothers have pampered their sons by doing their laundry and cooking and cleaning for them that they cannot survive a day without women. Sure, there are lots of stories where the men have lent an equal helping hand during the lockdown. And maybe change will happen slowly, but until then, are we expected to bear the brunt of the underlying chauvinism that still exists in our society?

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