[Schaumburger]

My parents had a very traditional 1950's marriage. They were married from 1957 to 1997 when my mom passed away. Dad worked; mom was a housewife. I do agree that most people of their generation did take the "till death do us part" vow more seriously than my generation did/does. And my father was definitely the decision maker and paid the bills (although he always consulted my mom). I have been supporting myself for so long now, I could not imagine asking a husband for "permission" to buy something as my mom thought she had to ask permission from my dad before she bought something. Don't get me wrong, I love my Dad, but "Father Knows Best" could have been filmed at my parents' home.

A few years before my mom passed away, I called her around 5:30. She said, "I can't talk now, your father expects his dinner at 6:00." I asked her if the kitchen was going to vaporize and disappear if dinner was not on the table at 6:00. My generation just takes a different view of marriage and the roles of men and women...