That is a terrible question. Phenomenal. Frankly, I’m horrified. The police should arrest you. Constable? Arrest this man. Yes, arrest him. Now. For asking silly questions. No wait, that would be public nuisance, wouldn’t it. Yes, yes, take him away. Clap him in chains. Throw him into the Tower of London. It’s haunted, isn’t it? The Tower. In London. Yes. Good Lord, don’t you know your own history? You should be ashamed of yourself. Look at you, sitting there with your microphone, clueless of your own forebears. Don’t tell me. Your last name is Hartford, isn’t it? See. You must be at least a little bit English. Shameful. How can you not know? You should read a book, you know. Reading is good for you. Oh, you do? What kind? Well then. Honestly, how did you survive Shakespeare if you don’t know about the Tower of London? Have you even seen a play? Good God. Oh? That doesn’t count. Everyone has seen Romeo and Juliet. Every pimply teenager with groinal urges has seen Romeo and Juliet. I’m not exaggerating. Sex, death, and religion, what more could you want? Best of them have all three. Come now, don’t be so prudish. You Americans, always up in arms about everything. Isn’t that exhausting? I’d be exhausted. Every five minutes some new outrage. Wretched. I’d be very upset if I were you. Is this coffee? Horrific stuff. Never drink it. Ah, tea. Thank God, much better.
In the Year of our Lord 2025 One Work to Make the Money Only enough to Stay Alive More Work to Make some Money Not enough to Live or Thrive
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Balance? What Balance?
To a lot of people, Home Life is Work after Work:
You come home after a long day at The Job, And you need to cook because hungry And you need to clean because good Lord: laundry.
For cooking and cleaning to actually happen, you need to shop. Have you gone shopping? And did you get everything you needed?
One of you or both of you forgot the canned tomatoes and the detergent. Again.
And then there’s the laundry. Always the laundry. And then there’s the dishes. Always the dishes.
Someone needs to strip the bed. Someone needs to clean the bathroom. Someone needs to wipe the floors. Someone needs to go and vacuum.
One of you or both you forgot to put the bins out. Again.
If you have children that’s a whole other body of work right there: From bathing and bedtime to extracurriculars and homework, there is Work to Be Done.
The Children need Raising. The Children need Tending The Children need Minding. The Children need Care.
All while making sure their bodies stay healthy And their brains don’t get scrambled And their souls don’t get eaten by Whoever Online.
Also quality time. Also weekend activities. Also family visits. Also birthdays, holidays, vacations.
One of you or both of you forgot to schedule that appointment. Again.
The Children need Raising. The Children need Tending The Children need Minding. The Children need Care.
Oh, and they need clothes. And shoes. And all of those clothes and shoes need to be season appropriate. By the way, they keep on growing. They need new clothes. Again. They need new shoes. Again. And there’s this thing called fashion.
Have you gone shopping? And did you get everything you needed?
One of you or both of you got the wrong t-shirt. Again.
Someone needs to strip the bed. Someone needs to clean the bathroom. Someone needs to wipe the floors. Someone needs to go and vacuum.
And then there’s the laundry. Always the laundry. And then there’s the dishes. Always the dishes.
Also quality time. Also weekend activities. Also family visits. Also DIY, Repairs, The Garden.