Yesterday, Aubrey and I were watching Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger, one of our favorite Food Network programs, and something caught my attention. At one point in the show, Ellie mentions being the best hostess you can be during the holidays. The best hostess. I couldn't help feeling a little slighted because I try really hard to help out with hosting duties during family events we hold at our house. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not running the show, but I work my buns off. But Ellie's comment made me think. She addressed this comment at her female audience because the role of hosting holidays always falls to the females in the family. In fact, I know no family where a male is in charge of any aspect of the holiday planning and preparing. Official Booze Purveyor does not count, guys.
A brainstorm started. I got to thinking. Women have always been, I guess, expected by society to hold these holiday functions that we all love so much. So, would these holiday traditions have fallen by the wayside if they had been left to the men in our families to uphold? I think that's an interesting question, but it's not my main point. My question will unravel in the next paragraph. (I'm still trying to figure it out.)
I was thinking about how over the last 50 years, society has changed a lot. Women have entered the workforce and are today doing more than ever before. They are societally expected to be breadwinners, mothers, housekeepers, and any other number of things. So, when the holidays roll around, it doesn't seem quite fair to place all the burden of the holiday events on them. My question is this, fellas: What role do you play in the holiday festivities? Do you help with the hosting duties or do you slob around all day watching sports? Do you help clean and cook, or do you find ways to shirk these responsibilities? I know what I do on holidays to help out. I want to know what you do. Please post comments.
Anonymous comments are welcomed.
3 comments:
I'm a big fan of hosting the holiday's. In our home the "parties" are pretty much prompted by me. I do the menu planning, shopping and cooking. I enjoy the entire process of having people dine on a dish that I've prepared. My wife is more in charge of logistics and set-up. Well, to be honest, she is also in charge of clean up. By the time the party comes to an end, you can find me passed out on the couch!
I come from a big family and we don't have the space to host on the holidays, but when we have a party, my duties are clearly defined.
Pre-party, I may make a few trips to the store, but my main job is to move tables and chairs, and keep the kids occupied (i.e., not destroying the house.)
My wife picks the menu, does all of the cooking, and more or less decides who to invite.
During the party I help her serve, but again, she takes lead host duties.
It's not until the party is over that I step up and take charge. Clean up is my specialty, and not only because the stress of preparing for a party causes my wife to consume copious amounts of alcohol during the party, rendering her indifferent to any type of housekeeping. Post-party is my time to shine.
Dan,
Thanks for participating. I have a lot of the same job responsibilities you do. I generally do some of the shopping (especially any last minute trips for forgotten items). I act as sous chef during the meal prep, and I help out with the serving. But my responsibilities generally kick in after the meal, where I scrape and clean all the dishes.
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