So we have ten acres of land. FIL has a ZTR and he mows most of our land, but a decent chunk is too hilly for him. DH used to do it all, but he has been working insane hours and it got really out of hand. Our mower takes me and a kid to start. My wing span is not long enough to pull the cord. So we managed this for a while but DH caught me the other morning. So out we go this week and DH buys a new mower with an easier start and all of these other super features. He doesn't get why I am less than thrilled. I say, "Don't buy me better tools so I can do the job, either do the job or hire some one else to do it for me!" He says, "I want you to manage without me." So, we're in the store and I -joking - complain to the sales guy that DH bought me a smaller tiller that I could handle, and tractor I could drive, and now a new mower. I was seeing him making sure I could do all of what used to be HIS chores!! The guy looks at me very seriously. He says, "Real men do what they have to do to make their women as independent as they can be so that they can manage without us if we were to be gone." He adds, "Sounds like you got yourself a great guy." I agree!!!! But, I thought it was an interesting way of looking at it. DH said he completely agreed that he thought his job was to make it so I could manage without him if I needed to. He needed to make me able to be independent in case something happened to him. (I still have very mixed feelings about this mower.... )
I'm so the opposite here. My hubby buys all these things that are to heavy or cumbersome for me to use because he fully intends to do the yardwork, but now he too is working all these long strange hours and our backyard is looking more like a jungle. I'm the one insisting on him buying me things that I can use like an electric weed eater that weighs about 5 lbs compared to his gas powered one that weighs near 20 lbs. I agree 20 lbs isn't very heavy till you've tried to weed eat a 1/4 acre fence line. At least the riding mower we got for him is also for me or we would have lost the chickens in the backyard by now.
I would have told him this real woman is going to go straight home and teach her real man to sew, cook and bake bread, preserve foods, do laundry, balance the check book, pay the bills, clean toilets, fridge, oven, closets, etc. Then you are going to go straight out and buy all the best equipment on which to learn these skills. What is good for the goose is sauce for the gander!
Quote:All in the name of helping him to learn to "manage without you" in case something were to ever happen to you
I hope the new one has electric start. My DH bought a john deer mower with electric start for him, but I'm kinda picky about the way the yard is mowed, so I kicked him off. I just let him change the oil.
Quote:All in the name of helping him to learn to "manage without you" in case something were to ever happen to you Amen to that one! And like it would ever happen before you know where freezes over! I did get a giggle out of imagining my husband telling me with a straight face that he was buying equipment for me to use and letting me do all the outside work so I'd know how to get along without him someday!! Ummm, I'd be telling him "Guess what buckwheat, I got along fine before you and I'll get along fine after you!" Yeah sure I'd miss him, but I'd get along!
I did the mowing of 2 acres with a 21" gas powered mower. After busting up my right arm I suggested to the wife we get a riding mower. Guess who doesn't have to mow the yard anymore. That would be MEE! More time in the lawn chair, drinking coffee and watching the world go by. Good work if you can get it.
