Don't Worry Working Moms: Just Leave Dad in Charge at Home

For many women, no matter how stressed they are, this is a hard step. When I speak to women’s groups, I describe the following scenario. You walk into your office, and your boss says: “I am biologically better at this, but I think you can do this job if I micromanage you enough, leaving you long lists of what needs to be done and calling in every hour or two to make sure you are actually doing what you are supposed to be.” Partway through, ripples of laughter begin to spread through the audience; the women recognize that I am describing how most of us treat our husbands. Some heads nod, but in the question-and-answer period, someone will always raise her hand and say that her husband really can’t do it. He can’t multitask. He’ll forget which child has to be where, when. He’ll just order pizza for dinner.