Is dealing with men really that stressful? Or do all women already know that men never grow up? for many women, as demanding as motherhood can be, their husbands can have an even greater impact on their stress levels.
Husbands Stress Out Their Wives More Than Their Children, Here's Why
Extra child
It’s a common running joke that moms tend to see their husband as an extra child in the family. A middle-aged man jokes with his work friends, saying, "I love being a dad- I have 2 great kids…. but my wife has 3!"
Motherhood is stressful
There’s no denying the fact that motherhood is stressful. The demands of providing the best life you can for your children financially, physically, and psychologically are stressful and often complicated.
Marital stress
Kids are likely to be a factor contributing to marital stress, too. According to a 2009 study, nine out of every 10 couples say the quality of their relationship declined after the birth of their first child.
Stress level
Marriage may produce just as much stress as motherhood and sometimes, it may even cause much more. A survey conducted by TODAY shows more than half of all mothers feel this way. Over 7,000 moms found that the average mom rates her stress levels an 8.5 out of 10. Single mothers (understandably) experience the highest levels of stress, as they have zero daily support from a spouse.
Mom confessions:
46per cent of U.S. mothers say their husbands stress them out more than their children because of a lack of help with household duties, and the feeling that he is just another child to take care of.
Duties
Three-quarters of the women claimed that they do the majority of the household duties and hold most of the parenting responsibilities.
Lack of help
About one in five moms are stressed out on a daily basis because their spouse doesn’t provide enough help with household tasks.
Mom Deno Fleno commented:
"A 7-year-old is going to be a 7-year-old. But a 35-year-old acting like a 7-year-old is more stressful because they should know better."
Stressed and irritated
The study found that most mothers became stressed and irritated when they don’t have enough time in the day to perform all the tasks that needed to be done.
Relying on their wives
This study also took a look at the men in their lives and found that many of them were relying heavily on their wives every day.
According to Hal Runkel, an Atlanta, Georgia-based therapist, marriage is the problem, not parenting.
He explained: "Moms think, my primary job is to be a mom, so she looks to her husband to be a support. When a man does not fulfill that supportive role, that's when the arguments start."
Dad stress
Dad stress cannot be compared to the stress women endure. They blame it on the organizational habits of dads.
Here’s what mothers had to say about the matter:
"I feel like I am figuring out a lot about parenting on my own without the input of my husband. This stresses me out because when something goes wrong, it is all my fault."
"Often times it seems like I am the only adult in my house. My husband and daughter compete with me for my attention."
"He gets all the time he wants and I get none. I can’t even take a relaxing bath without my husband bringing the baby to me."
"Even though I have a committed spouse, I still feel like all the pressure is on ME to get everything done. I work just as many hours as my husband does, but yet I do all the scheduling."
Relationship expert Tammy Nelson, Ph.D., tells HuffPost Weddings:
"In our busy lives and busy homes, we can always find things we are stressed about. Focus on what works and makes you feel less stressed. Point out how your partner helps when they do, and focus on how each of you can bring less stress into each others’ lives. Go with your strengths and remember that you didn’t get married to be great roommates. You got married because you loved each other."