Wife Says "No" to Staying Home

Level 3 Social Lesson by: Aron Thode

How to study this lesson

Ask: (1) What are some examples of housework? (2) Do you cook your own meals? If not, who does?

Angry woman pointing and yelling in a bright living room, one hand on her hip, wearing a gray tank top, beige cardigan, and jeans.
Marcus made his wife angry.

Marcus @nudadsoon
Jan 24, 2026 🌐

My wife and I are expecting our first baby. I am 29, and she is 25. I have a good job and make about $180,000 a year.

My wife is a college dropout. She works as a receptionist at a bakery company. She has worked there for three years. She earns about $18 per hour.

My wife already does most of the housework. While I am at work, she cleans the house and cooks dinner. She chooses to do this. I never ask her to do everything. I try to help, but the work is usually done before I get home.

Last night at dinner, she was talking about her job. She said she hated it. I suggested that maybe she could be a stay-at-home mom. She already does the housework, and she will be a mother soon.

She looked offended. She told me she would never stay home all day to be my "servant." She was angry at me for suggesting it.

I thought I was being helpful. Am I wrong?

likes · 3 comments

Vocab List

  • Expecting (v.) — Waiting for a baby to be born.
  • Dropout (n.) — A person who leaves school before finishing.
  • Receptionist (n.) — A person who answers phones and greets visitors at a business.
  • Housework (n.) — Cleaning, cooking, and other jobs done at home.
  • Offended (adj.) — Feeling hurt or angry because of something someone said or did.
  • Servant (n.) — A person who works in another person's home doing cleaning and cooking.
  • Dinner (n.) — The main meal in the evening.
  • Hated (v.) — Disliked very much.
Tone Check

Tone Check

Label each comment with a tone: Supportive, Critical, Neutral, or Worried.

  • DirectDad

    I think you made a mistake. You should not tell your wife what to do. That was not a good idea.

    Tone:

  • GentleAdvice

    I think you meant well. It sounds like you wanted to help your family. Maybe talk to her again and explain your feelings.

    Tone:

  • ConcernedFriend

    What about your relationship? This could become a big problem if you don't talk about it soon.

    Tone:

Listen and fill the gaps below:

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:

My wife and I are (1) __________ our first baby. I am 29, and she is 25. I have a good job and make about $180,000 a year.

My wife is a college dropout. She works as a (2) __________ at a bakery company. She has worked there for three years. She earns about $18 per hour.

My wife already does most of the (3) __________. While I am at work, she cleans the house and cooks (4) __________. She chooses to do this. I never ask her to do everything. I try to help, but the work is usually done before I get home.

Last night at dinner, she was talking about her job. She said she (5) __________ it. I suggested that maybe she could be a stay-at-home mom. She already does the housework, and she will be a mother soon.

She looked (6) __________. She told me she would never stay home all day to be my "servant." She was angry at me for suggesting it.

I thought I was being helpful. Am I wrong?

True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • Marcus earns more money than his wife.
    Marcus earns about $180,000 a year while his wife earns about $18 per hour as a receptionist.
  • Marcus's wife finished college.
    The text says she is a college dropout, which means she did not finish.
  • Marcus always asks his wife to clean the house.
    Marcus says he never asks her to do everything. She chooses to do the housework.
  • Marcus's wife was happy with his suggestion.
    She looked offended and was angry at Marcus for suggesting it.

True or False

1. Marcus earns more money than his wife. T / F

2. Marcus's wife finished college. T / F

3. Marcus always asks his wife to clean the house. T / F

4. Marcus's wife was happy with his suggestion. T / F

Put Events in Order

Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (5):

  • ___ At dinner, his wife said she hated her job.

  • ___ His wife became angry and said she would not be his "servant."

  • ___ Marcus and his wife found out they were expecting their first baby.

  • ___ Marcus suggested she could be a stay-at-home mom.

  • ___ His wife started working as a receptionist at a bakery company.

Multiple Choice

1. How much does Marcus earn per year?

   A) About $18 per hour

   B) About $180,000

   C) About $25,000

   D) The text does not say

2. Where does Marcus's wife work?

   A) At a hospital

   B) At a school

   C) At a bakery company

   D) At home

3. Why is the housework usually done before Marcus gets home?

   A) Marcus asks his wife to finish early

   B) His wife hires someone to help

   C) His wife chooses to do it while he is at work

   D) Marcus works from home

4. What word did Marcus's wife use to describe being a stay-at-home mom?

   A) Helper

   B) Partner

   C) Mother

   D) Servant

Vocab List
  • Expecting (v.)
  • Dropout (n.)
  • Receptionist (n.)
  • Housework (n.)
  • Offended (adj.)
  • Servant (n.)
  • Dinner (n.)
  • Hated (v.)

Vocab Match

Match each vocabulary word with a definition:

1. Expecting

2. Dropout

3. Receptionist

4. Housework

5. Offended

6. Servant

a) A person who works in another person's home doing cleaning and cooking.

b) Feeling hurt or angry because of something someone said or did.

c) Cleaning, cooking, and other jobs done at home.

d) A person who answers phones and greets visitors at a business.

e) A person who leaves school before finishing.

f) Waiting for a baby to be born.

Discussion Builder
  1. Marcus thought he was being helpful.
  2. Marcus says his wife already does most of the housework.
  3. They are expecting a baby soon.

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. Marcus thought he was being helpful. ________ his wife felt insulted by the suggestion.

    For example, / But, / So, / Also,

  2. Marcus says his wife already does most of the housework. ________ she cleans the house and cooks dinner while he is at work.

    But, / I think, / For example, / Also,

  3. They are expecting a baby soon. ________ it is important for them to talk about work and childcare plans.

    To me, / For example, / Also, / So,

Discussion Questions

  1. Did Marcus make a good suggestion? Why or why not?
  2. Why did his wife feel offended? Can you understand her reaction?
  3. What advice would you give Marcus?
  4. Did your parents both work? Or did one of them stay home?
  5. Do you think it is better for one parent to stay home with a baby?
  6. Is one income enough, or do most families need two incomes?
  7. How can couples share housework fairly?
  8. What are the benefits and challenges of being a stay-at-home parent?

Answers

Tone:

  1. Critical

  2. Supportive

  3. Worried

Listening: (1) expecting, (2) receptionist, (3) housework, (4) dinner, (5) hated, (6) offended

True or False:

  1. True. Marcus earns about $180,000 a year while his wife earns about $18 per hour as a receptionist.
  2. False. The text says she is a college dropout, which means she did not finish.
  3. False. Marcus says he never asks her to do everything. She chooses to do the housework.
  4. False. She looked offended and was angry at Marcus for suggesting it.

Multiple Choice: B, C, C, D

Put Events in Order:

  1. His wife started working as a receptionist at a bakery company.
  2. Marcus and his wife found out they were expecting their first baby.
  3. At dinner, his wife said she hated her job.
  4. Marcus suggested she could be a stay-at-home mom.
  5. His wife became angry and said she would not be his "servant."

Vocabulary:

  1. Expecting: Waiting for a baby to be born.

  2. Dropout: A person who leaves school before finishing.

  3. Receptionist: A person who answers phones and greets visitors at a business.

  4. Housework: Cleaning, cooking, and other jobs done at home.

  5. Offended: Feeling hurt or angry because of something someone said or did.

  6. Servant: A person who works in another person's home doing cleaning and cooking.

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Contrast. 2) Example. 3) Result.

  1. But,

  2. For example,

  3. So,

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