The other day I stood in the middle of the kitchen. I had it really clean and tidy. I was looking at the children, they had just been fed and were content, entertaining each other and I was suddenly struck with such loneliness. Its such a cliché isn’t it, but when people speak derisively of the ‘bored housewife’ do they mean lonely? Do they know what it is to go from waking up to going to bed without having a conversation with an adult?
I don’t think that a man would feel the same in a similar position because there is a uniquely female feeling of guilt to being ‘just a housewife’ which compounds the loneliness. You feel its not good enough to have the place sort of tidy or have things almost done. if I am just here, not earning money, just taking care of the children then what is my excuse if the house is not perfect, if every shirt is not ironed, if I am not always here? but men do not think of answering to anyone.
