The "second shift" is definitely a brutal dilemma for women. My wife and I were able to skirt it because she has stayed home with the kids for the past eleven years and I share some of the domestic labor (obviously she does way more).

It is a little odd to hear you talk about stories of your friends having husbands who wouldn't even get them a glass of water when they are sick. I've never heard of that. In the couples that I know, husbands are happy to find opportunities to serve their wives. And wives are happy to find opportunities to serve their husbands.

It's tough to know which of us is living in a bubble, but unfortunately I think it might be me. I go to a church where people practice what they preach. While it's a lot of fun to be a part of, I do worry that I'm going to start to lose touch with the broader culture as everyone's experience starts to deteriorate and the social fabric starts to unravel