What does your family do differently...

[Momto2Boyz]

I've been watching reruns of wife swap on Lifetime, and as much as I absolutely abhorr reality TV, I do get a super cheap thrill out of watching this show! I love how they take two totally different wives and swap them out!

So, if you swapped lives with somone different, what would they thing you do really differently in your family? (And your answer can't be that you are extremely frugal or live simply...cuz, well, around here, that would be a pretty common answer!).

I think here, it would probably be the fact that I do most of the "manly" chores! Our nieghbors think it is weird that I do all of these things. I mow the lawn, take the garbage out, I've even been known to research the internet and change out truck parts when needed! It doesn't have anything to do with my DH being lazy or wanting a woman to take care of his every need (which I think is what our neighbors think). It's just a routine that we've fallen into over the years, and I have the time to do these things, while DH doesn't!

So what is your weird family thing dynamic?

[frugalbabe]

Hmmm let's see. I think we're kinda boring and average actually lol. I do a lot of "manly" chores as well because dh works long hours and well I like the exercise! Actually, what I think is unique about us is more my dh. He has never hesitated to do tons of household chores and caring for the kids. My friends always comment that I have a catch because he loves to bake, cook dinner, on his own he will clean whatever needs to be done when he's home on the weekends, and he has built most of our furniture, he has always been hands on with the kids even when they were tiny. We really are partners and so many marriages just seem one sided. But really for the most part we are just your run of the mill family I guess!

[IntlMom]

ppl definitely would think that we live a boring little life.
We do......and we like it that way.

[jas]

Just normal folks around here. At least we think we are. I guess they would trade me for a really untight, control freak. I am pretty laid back, sahm mom I take care of all daily cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, running my daughter around. Dh does the cars, lawn, trash and works his butt off at his job.

My daughter would freak and not cooperate with a commando type woman.
niether would DH he would just shut down and walk away.

[elphie]

probably that we homeschool... and not just regular homeschooling, we are borderline unschoolers (I say borderline because we do some structured things but not all). I've never watched the show but I wonder if they've ever swapped a homeschooling and public/private schooling family and how that went?

[forHISglory]

I don't think we are boring. In fact, we have little down time to get bored with. Someone may want to change us to make us slow down more.

We are a faith-based family and make decisions based on prayer and religious values. That might not fly well. We are very careful with our language, which isn't always the case in other homes.

We depend on ourselves for entertainment for the most part. That is, we read, play games, do woodworking or crafting, sing..... and don't rely on TV, Wii, video games,and so forth.

We do eat fast food for convenience on our teaching nights, but otherwise we rarely eat out and I don't buy processed foods/junk foods. Our meals are healthy and balanced, and that could upset some folks.

Am I answering the question? I have only seen the show once, so I may be off in what you were expecting.

[annymoll]

If a new wife came in and took over my routine she would need to be up at 4AM each weekday, around 6 AM on weekends.She would need to be neat, structured and orderly, and would have the responsibility of running the household, and filling in at work in a pinch.She would need to love fitness, and be willing to work out, play tennis, swim and bike.She would need to be a Christian.My worst nightmare trade- a sloppy , disorganized household, a disheveled and unkempt home and life, chaos, whiners.Unemployed.I don't think I could last.

[justpeachy92]

I would consider us a rather boring, average family.
I know you said not to talk about being frugal, but I do think it would be interesting to see an over spender swap lives with an extreme frugalist.

[inneedofhope]

They did that on Oprah I think it was, It was a bus driver who lived in a cabin and chopped her own wood as well as doing all the household and kid raising on a very meager income swapped with a upper enchilada wife who spend her days shopping and at the spa while nannies and staff took care of the kids and home.


I'm nobody's wife so whoever got swapped with me would be doing it all.

[imagine]

I've never watched the show but I wonder if they've ever swapped a homeschooling and public/private schooling family and how that went?

Yes they have a few times. Sometimes the homeschool family looks the best and sometimes the public/private school family ends up looking the best.

Most homeschool families I know do not like the homeschool/public/private school swaps as they feel that it tends to make the homeschool families look bad. I'm not so sure I agree.

[thefrug]

well, let's see... I do the mowing, weed whacking,all the gardening, feed the dogs and cats and an ungrateful rabbit. All the cooking, cleaning,run the errands. From Aug till the end of Oct we go to the Ren Faire every weekend. We dress in garb and have a great time. We ride the side car rig when it's nice out. I used to keep track of every b.day, anniversary,reunion,etc., but I gave that up years ago.
Ours is a pretty boring life

[Michelle68]

Having seen this show a couple of times, I think most of these swap situations seem to be with pretty unusual families. They are usually polar opposites with very extreme personalities and ideas. That being said, I think most families really would be almost too normal for the show.I also sometimes wonder how many situations in the show are set up to make for more interesting t.v.

[sunshine]

We're farmers -- so they'd probably swap us with some city dudes.

The wife would have to be able to drive a stick shift tractor (no cab, no over cover at all). . . deliver hay to the animals, mend fences, help with animal births, be prepared to run the nearest town (30+miles away) and get the correct parts to repair various farm equipment, be able to feed several farm hands lunch, sometimes supper, know what to plant in the garden/when - how to harvest it and put it up for later use (all depends on the time of year -- right now we're starting seeds indoors)

[danni]

The only thing that comes to mind about our family is the amount of kids around. I homeschool so they are always home too. I have 5 and regularly babysit 4 more and then at least a few times a month have anohther 5 to babysit. Add to that all the friends they bring around, the 4 cats and 1 lg dog and people think I'm nuts. Then they are sure there is something wrong with me when they find out we live in a 1100sq ft home with all that going on. It

[Nana2two]

I love watching the show, but would not want to trade. I would be afraid i would get a A@@ of a husband. We are a simple family. No fancy jobs, simple life.