I would have been the weird one

I'm home alone (!) watching "I Love Lucy," and thinking that I could not have survived if I was married in the 1950s. If I had to say "yes, sir" to my husband, or beg him for money, or be in charge of the kids full-time while he earns the living, or ask permission for everything, I would have rebelled and talked back and been the talk of all the biddies at the bridge games.

RRRRGH! Lucy just bought new furniture without Ricky's permission, so he's taking it to his office and making her pay for it out of her "allowance." She washes one of his suits in the sink to show she's economizing to save for the furniture--and to get back at him for yelling at her--and he says she has to pay an extra $100 for the furniture. So she wants to have one last party night before she starts saving money, which means a perm and a new dress. Ricky sternly shakes his head.

"If I make the dress myself, can I have the permanent?"
Like a father dealing with an aggravating child, he sternly shakes his head.
"If I give myself the permanent, can I buy a dress?"
Head shake.
"If I give myself the permanent and make the dress, will you take the extra $100 off?"

Like a child having to do chores to earn an allowance, not like an equal partner!

Tonight Jason is baby-sitting for friends of ours--their oldest child and I do not get along, so it's understood that Jason (who is so much more patient and understanding) babysits when their oldest is there, not me. He even took Jamie with him so I could have a little time to myself--with which I need to get up and continue accomplishing things in a minute here--so he's with three kids by himself. He said he needs the practice anyway, because we'll be to that point eventually. Now, that's a real man!

I guess I shouldn't have referenced the 50s. Plenty of women are still dominated by men, in subtle and horrible ways. But I'm glad that at least in our culture, it's encouraged, even expected for husbands and wives to be equal partners, and for fathers to be parents to their children, too. And I'm so grateful to be blessed with a man who believes that, and practices it.