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Yes - I've felt that way - as my wife has also. She has felt unappreciated for all the housework she does - I have felt unappreciated for all the career work I do. Heck - I'd like to get 1/2 the time with the kids that she does. I guess the grass is always greener, eh?

Sometimes as the "dad" - I feel like all I am is a paycheck and bedtime storyteller. All the school stuff, etc.... gets attended by mom. So its all about persective.

Also - how old are the kids? If you have 4, I assume the oldest is at LEAST 5 or 6 (maybe older)?

They should have age appropriate tasks and help out with the house. Just as 'Dad' should. Getting the house messy is a family activity - so cleaning it up should be as well.

Many hands make light work. Plus you just might find your child / children keep things cleaned up / picked up better it THEY are the ones that put it away.

Our 6 y/o helps set the table, clears his dishes, and helps put clothes in the dryer (washer is too high yet). He also makes his bed eveery morning and helps fold laundry while we watch TV as a family in the evenings after dinner.

That's how I was raised and its how we are raising our kids. The sooner they learn these life skills, the better off they'll be when they grow and move out.

It also lightens your load of chores AND it takes less time b/c you have more people helping !!!

Best of luck ....

That's a man for you. Most men think their family is taken care of adequately as long as the bills get paid. They are not concerned in the least about their socks sticking to the crud on the floor. You could go on strike, but don't expect much improvement. Sometimes you have to count your blessings, and let the rest slide. After all, he does not sound like a deadbeat by any means. Does he at least do some things? How about the yard, or fixing things around the house? Does he help with the kids, or gas up your car for you? If he just never did a thing at all then, yes you have a right to expect more. However, remember, you do have 4 kids and work so of course you will obviously feel overwhelmed at times. That is alot to keep up with. Maybe you just need to calm down a little, and don't forget to give him praise for the things that he does do, even if you feel it is not enough.

Yes, I believe it is a big battle of the sexes....I work part-time and feel that it is no big deal to handle most of the house chores. I was brought up with my Mom basically doing ALL the house work, laundry, shopping, cooking etc, so I guess some of it comes from watching my Mom be such a good care taker. Hubby likes to cook occasionally and doesn't mind stopping by the grocery store too. I finally got it through is thick head that if he cooks, he cleans, because when I cook I clean. Used to be that I cleaned up regardless, because he viewed cooking as a favor to me. HELLO??? Anyway, yes I have my moments when I start to get very angry that women's work is never done, bathtime, bedtime, homework...but what I have found is that many times, if I ask nicely, specific things, such as, please read with Johnny while I clean the kitchen, guess what, it gets done!

One thing that I did when I was married was announce to husband and 2 children that everyone was responsible for washing their own clothes. What could they do? Make me do their laundry? I think not...I got this tip from a local male elementary teacher. It worked like a charm. I never did anyone elses clothes from that day forward. I buy those gold-book restaurant coupons and eat out a lot, too - he he. If people get hungary enough, they'll manage to forage for food.

If you feel unappreciated, do less, but I would suggest doing this on a gradual basis so the transition will be smoother.

I do... I only have 2 kids, but I work full time. My husband actually works out of the house. I know that he is working during the day and can't be expected to clean during that time, but how hard would it be to toss in a load of laundry while he takes a break or I don't know, even clean up his own dishes from lunch...

Trust me, if your husband is anything like mine (sounds like he is) he will start wearing dirty clothes and eating fast food for everymeal before stepping into your shoes... LOL...

Good Luck girl!

Yes. Some weekends I work 3 shifts. I come home Monday morning and the sink is full of dishes from the weekend. The garbage can still full. And on and on. But since I can't stand it, I will clean up on Monday which is my day off. Then the same thing will repeat the following weekend. Let me know when you come up with an answer. Thanks a lot.

Some days - yes. But I just keep dredging on. I guess I figure I could go on strike, but in the end I would only be punishing myself, because I am the one that would have to get it all caught back up after not doing anything for a week. It would take me a month to get back to normal.

Don't get me wrong, I love my husband and my kids, but it really would be nice to get a thank you or a small token of appreciation once in a blue moon. Oh-well...............

There was a time when I did feel like that. It depends on the ages of your children if I stopped doing things for a week. If the kids are old enough, Heck yeah,...I would make sure I had clean clothes and I could survive on sandwiches for a while.

GO ON STRIKE!!! My father used to think dishes, cooking, and laundry were "work for women" because that was how he was raised. My mother worked two jobs and was gone from home alot. Needless to say, my mother just had enough one day. She told my sister and I not to do the dishes anymore unless we needed somethine that was already used, same with laundry. she told us to only cook enough for ourselves.

My father got so mad when he started to bark out orders for my sister, my mom, and I to cook, clean, and do the laundry and my mother told him that we were on strike and he should "fend for himself". If he can't then oh well!!

Let's just say it didn't take very long for him to step up and realize that he had to pitch in around the house too......share and share alike right?

Go on strike and DON'T GIVE IN!!! When he doesn't have what he needs....he'll figure it out!!

No I don't.

If you are so upset with your situation, why don't you tell him that? Do you complain about it or do you expect him to read your mind? If you are in this routine of you doing everything and you never ask for help, then chances are he isn't going to think anything is amiss.

Also, keep in mind that you work part-time, he works full-time. Perhaps he thinks it's only natural you would do more around the house.