CHORE WARS

Fed up with doing everything around the house, Natasha Harding was determined to get her hubby to realise just how little he actually did

- NATASHA HARDING

Placing the last items of a massive food shop in the fridge, I let out a sigh of contentment. After cleaning the house from top to bottom for hours, the surfaces are gleaming and everything looks spick and span. But, seconds later, I walk into the lounge and instantly feel the red mist descend. Almost involuntarily, I scream at the top of my lungs. Despite vacuuming earlier and leaving the carpet immaculate, it is now littered with biscuit crumbs. My husband of eight years, Paul, is the culprit and I'm now experiencing a surge of full-flown 'chore rage' - that feeling of boiling anger you get when household jobs are not shared equally. And I know I'm not alone.

WOMEN'S WORK?

Most of my friends also suffer from chore rage and, according to a survey by home security company YaleHome, one in six of us would end our relationships due to disputes over household tasks. After a particularly flaming row with Paul, who is 55 and works in insurance, I vented to the school-gate mums. I explained that a fury fills me when I think about how many household jobs fall to me, despite the fact I also look after our kids, Zak, 18, and 10-year-old Lexi, while working as a writer and yoga teacher. Every single one of them nodded in agreement.