Husbands create more housework (surprise!)

My mom came over the day and was amazed to see my husband cooking dinner for the kids, before switching a load of a laundry into the dryer. (The guy is obsessed with laundry.)

“Cooking dinner? Doing laundry? What a husband!” she said, genuinely amazed.

I shrugged happily, knowing that I take Rich’s involvement for granted. But a new study from the University of Michigan makes me realize just how lucky I am. Their researchers determined that having a husband creates an extra seven hours a week of housework for women.

On the bright side, men are pitching in more than they have in the past: dedicating 13 hours a week to household tasks in 2005 than their mere six hours in 1976. And—yippee!—women are doing less housework on average: 17 hours instead of 26 hours back in 1976.

So tell us: what’s the housework split like at your house?

And while we’re on the topic of laundry—be sure to find out how one of our readers makes the most of the spin cycle!