Woman Taking Care Of Husband, Children And Parent Quits

A woman who gets up at 4:30 a.m. every day to care for her husband, their five children, her parents, and two dogs has decided to resign in protest.

Laura Ben Salem stated that she does not go to bed until 10:30 p.m. every day since she remains up tending to everyone’s needs.

She said: “I try to please everybody, I can’t use that word NO.”

She just appeared in Channel 5’s new reality show Wife on Strike.

Her household was one of three highlighted in which everyday responsibilities were handled by a single person, generally a woman.

Laura, 37, from Greenwich, South East London, is shown driving her children to and from school in the first episode.

She also drives her husband of 16 years, Wassim, to and from his city commute.

When he arrives home, he prefers to relax rather than assist out with the family.

“He’s always holding up,” she says. “As soon as he gets home from work he’ll go straight upstairs.”

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Wassim is then seen on the bed snoring.

“He doesn’t do much,” Laura continues, “he doesn’t cook, he doesn’t clean, he doesn’t hoover, he doesn’t make the bed, he doesn’t do the washing, he doesn’t do the drying, he doesn’t put the clothes away.”

Wassim, the husband, who comes from a traditional Tunisian household, said it’s just what he’s used to.

He explained: “I’ve been brought up in a family that the mother she’ll look after the children, she’ll look after the husband, she’ll look after the house. The husband he’ll work hard to provide for the family. I work in the city. When I come back I wanna rest a little bit.”

Laura’s persistent frustration is revealed when she is seen making dinner – which is sometimes three different dishes to accommodate to everyone’s tastes – yelling upstairs to her family that it’s done, and then washing the floor.

“Enough’s enough,” she says. “I’m not gonna keep tidying up after them. It’s not even just physically, it’s mentally draining.

“I say it all the time, all the time, that’s it I’ve had enough. ‘Ahh yeah, where you gonna go?’” she says, mocking her family’s response. “And before I’ve even finished having this little paddy, they’re all standing at my car waiting for me.

“I’ve really had enough. I’m sick and tired of all the work that I keep doing. Putting others first…I need to see some changes before I can return.”

The woman goes away for a week, leaving Wassim in charge of everything.

Wassim revealed his plans for the property now that his wife has left: “It’s gonna be Wassim’s sweet dictatorship. One dinner for everyone and if they don’t like it, tough.”

Instead of cooking dinner, he goes out to acquire a takeout meal for the family.

The episode featuring Ben Salems is available to watch on My5. Episode 2 of Wife on Strike will air on Channel 5 on Monday, November 13.

Viewers who saw the trailer expressed their displeasure.

One wrote: “What’s wrong with people using their feet and walking? If they can eat they can help prepare and clear away. This isn’t marriage, it’s slavery without respect or appreciation. Wonder whether this will give them another perspective?”

Another said: “Her children are grown they should be able to help tackle some of the chores. her mom doesn’t look like an invalid, so does her father, they should be able to help with the cleaning and cooking.”

A third quipped: “This is the UK in the 21st century. Seriously? Wake up and find your voice. It’s totally unacceptable to live like this.”