23: On Housekeeping, Middle Age & Finding Work-Life Balance When Your Marriage Ends - Helen’s Story

The tiresome chores required to maintain a house and sustain the lives within it are more than the sum of their parts. They create a home, and a safe and comfortable haven, both for individuals and for raising a family. Do they, therefore, fall under the “work” or “home” sides of the work-life balance equation?They certainly often feel like work. Hard work. Yet, they’re unpaid and occupy the time spent when not “at work”. This podcast episode, features the writer and “home worker” Helen Hayward. In this episode, we discuss: 📕 Helen’s new book, which challenges criticisms of domesticity from the likes of feminist icons like Simone de Beauvoir. 🧚‍♂️ The “Cinderella” moments of being a career-oriented mother and a home-maker. 👵🏼 The pursuit of balance when you are caring for ageing parents as well as a family home and children. 💍 The pursuit of balance when your marriage comes to an end. 👩‍👧Mother-daughter dynamics and finding balance as you seek your own path, and experience rejection. 🧽 Finding meaning and creativity in housework, housekeeping, and home-making - all the “work” that makes a house a home. Some tips, tricks, and inspiration to find your balance when this is part of your “job” and identity. 🙏🏼 The meaning of life. You can read more about my interview with Helen at www.a-fine-balance.com/podcast.