I was 22 when I got married. I met Raymond in 1977, we go married in 1982. I didn't date him exclusively until my senior year of college, but we had been dating 4 years all together.
Raymond grew up working around the farm, and for others. The only time I knew him not to have a jobs outside the farm was during semesters. During the summers he often worked several jobs.
I started making money working outside the home when I was 10. That is when I started babysitting. I think I always did chores around the house from the time I could walk. It was what you did in our house. You did your part to be help the entire family. I can remember standing on a chair to wash dishes because I was too little to even reach the kitchen counter.
When Raymond and I got married we were fairly mature and knew how we wanted to run our household. Because we only had one car, I didn't work for many months after we got married. We had to wait to see where Raymond would be assigned so my job could be in the same direction. Since I didn't work, I did everything in the apartment, except laundry. Raymond had refused to pony up the extra money to get an apartment with a washer/dryer, so he said he would do the laundry. Every Sunday he got up around 5 a.m. and did the laundry. He would do all the washing and drying, then he would bring it all back for me to iron/fold and put away.
After I started working the chores were divided up. Raymond did the bathroom, I did the kitchen, he ran the vacuum, I dusted. The person who cooked, did not do the dishes. It remained that way until I quit work to raise the boys, then I did all the inside chores, and Raymond did all the outside chores.
Fast forward to 2013. I have seen a lot of 22 year olds get married this year. Personally, I think they could have all waited a few more years. They all seem so immature, and they cannot seem to get this household thing down. It cracks me up, and at the same time makes me so sad.
Marriage is hard work. I worry what will happen to some of these couples when real hard issues come up in their marriage. If they can't figure out how to compromise and get the household chores done, what will happen when there are children, health issues, or financial problems?
