She’s the watch at home – keeps an eye on the maid
who won’t work well on her own no matter how high she’s paid.
Enforces routine daily so they eat meals together. On time.
And if she relaxes a bit they all fall out of line.
Each one on a roll at a different pace
with no time for family. Instead, they work long hours with no breaks.
A family with gender roles that allow men a lack of routine,
plus long working hours and commutes that push a ‘do as you please’.
But now times have changed, and she won’t give in
to these ways that let their men do what they will.
And makes the home makers pay a really high price
for this 80-hour week that they all think is life.
And she’s THE WATCH – the one that keeps the routine they need to feel fine
until life give them no option and they have to toe the line.
A poem about one very important part of the role of the home manager 😀
The definition of Watch from the Brittanica.
the relaxed housekeeper 
Yes – exactly! This is exactly why my in-laws are contemplating a move to an assisted care home. Sparky’s mother just can’t handle everything – cooking, cleaning, laundry, managing the shopping and the garden… If she were to become completely incapable Sparky’s dad would be in a terrible situation! I don’t think it would be healthy to subsist on cold cereal, toast and jam, and hotdogs! (I think that is the extent of his cooking prowess)…
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Hmm.
That’s sad for Sparky’s Mum but also probably what she expected of her husband.
A man knowing how to make cold cereal, toast & jam, and hotdogs must have been considered being extremely helpful for her generation I’m guessing.
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