Handing in My Wand: The Chilling Link Between Housework and Spousal Entitlement

Behind the Trail of Garlic Powder and Toenails

Near the end of my own 19-year marriage, my frustration evolved into something much heavier than just being tired. I was getting physically sick of cleaning up after a grown man.

I’m talking about a partner who was entirely incapable of putting a plate in the dishwasher. A man who would leave his clipped toenails all over the couch, and leave garlic powder scattered across the counters like snow after cooking. Outside, it was the same story, no lawn cutting, no snow shoveling.