When you’re in a relationship, it’s typically understood that you contribute in some way. One person doing the housework doesn’t seem all that fair, right? It’s not hard to load dishwashers, dryers, or feed a baby, either. Knowing that, when your partner is in need of a recharge, clearing some of their chores can be really helpful. One California father shows what positive masculinity looks like when his wife gets a moment away from a busy day with the kids.
“I just got home from work and we’re going to attempt the impossible,” says TikToker JGPUnfiltered, while standing in front of a sink full of dishes and a napping baby in a sling. He then jokingly says he “kicked” his wife out of the house. Despite their home being clean (other than the stacks of dishes), he says she and their kids had a good day. However, it was clear his wife was exhausted. “I could tell my wife needed a minute to herself,” so she left the house to recharge.
There’s zero expectation of me doing any of this,” JGP admits. It’s then a montage of unloading and loading the dishwasher, only stopping once to ‘sniff test’ a baby bottle. JGP judges the one bottle to be dirty, only risking it because his baby is “due for a bottle” soon. (I’ve been guilty of that.) Oh, yeah, and he’s still wearing the baby sling, though he jokingly adds, “I don’t know how many squats I can do with her on me.”
Interspliced in the cleanup, JGP is also giving helpful tips, like a brand of baby formula that’s “done well” in lieu of another brand having shortage problems. By then, his newborn is awake and hungry, so he switches gears before getting back to the dishes. Poor guy takes one for the team by dealing with sink gunk and water splashing up from the dishwasher. He’s successful, though, other than a few stragglers who need hand-washing.
Naturally, the comments were flooded with good vibes, directed at JGP and his family. “It’s so cool to see people that have the ability to give,” said one commenter. See, you don’t have to wait for someone to ask you to do something. You just have to take initiative sometimes, especially if you’re bored with nothing to do.
Others shared their own lifehacks, like letting your faucet slowly drip and opening cabinet doors to prevent pipes from freezing. It’s good advice, and I especially like the one about keeping plastic bags stored under the sink. Is there anywhere else?
Ultimately, it’s a view into a lived-in home, warts and all, like their leaking dishwasher, which JGP calls attention to (and plans on fixing). Keeping the house clean is its own reward, apparently. “When it comes to keeping the house happy, I’m extra.” He’s so nonchalant about it. That’s the kind of positive masculinity we could use more of!
