“out of touch and sound a bit jealous”
Huh? OK, lets take this apart slowly. Not because I’m trying to win you over; becuase just in case Memo is reading each post, I don’t want it to sound like I’m critizing her in particular. Its a general mind set that I have a problem with.
1) Out of touch – if expecting someone to work is called old fashioned, then you’ve got me pegged. A huge contributing factor to many of today’s society ills, is the fact that when the going gets tough, find someone else to do the job more to your liking. Barring a physical handicap, there is no reason a young couple cannot handle basic housekeeping, laundry, cooking, ect. And if she works full time? Wonderful! He does not. Let him pitch in bein hasdorim, the way he expects her to work and bear children. Marraige is about building a relationship. Helping one another is what solid relationships are built on. Why deprive yourself of this, especially in the early years of your marraige?
2) Jealous – no, I pity them. Kind of the way I pity folks that haul off to a hotel for Pesach, even if it almost a tie for what it costs to make Pesach at home. What you gain in convenience, you lose in terms of Grandparents, community, ect.
If you’re talking about a clean-up crew to help after new apt. renovations, or work that requires skill / experience (like painting or floor scraping) that’s another thing. But regular domestic help for 2 people? Ridiculous.
And for the record, if I’m jealous about anything, its the young chosson’s ability to pack in 12-18 months of undisturbed learning. Not his $50 cleaning lady