Wife's Skill Puzzle Husband

Authored by Dr. Ayo Olufade

My wife is at it again... and I’m officially puzzled.

I am asking myself this question. Is it just me, or do other guys see this as a common “good problem,” women managing household tasks and handling numbers, but not pursuing STEAM careers?

Here is one experience that I wonder if it might resonate with some of you. This morning, my wife and I discovered that our house filters were absolutely filthy. Yak! The last time we checked the filter was three months ago.

Before I could even blink or grab a tool, my wife was already up the ladder, dismantling things to find the source of the dirt. Whether it’s fixing a leak or tinkering with an appliance, she’s constantly under the hood of this house.

But it’s not just the physical stuff. She is a wizard with numbers. She has every single one of our Social Security numbers memorized (and there are a lot of us in this house!). She manages the entire household budget and has done our taxes for years until my business grew too complex for DIY.

Naturally, I asked her: “Why didn’t you become an engineer or pursue a STEAM career? You are a natural.”

Her answer? “Because I don’t like math!” I am kind of stunned because she manages our taxes, memorizes SS numbers, and handles the household budget-how can she dislike math? I have even suggested she start a business doing other people’s taxes.

I’m sitting here thinking... Wait, what? You handle the finances, you calculate the taxes, and you understand the mechanics of everything you touch. How is that not math?

It makes me wonder: How many women dismiss careers in physics, statistics, or engineering because societal stereotypes make them believe they aren’t “math people,” despite doing math daily?

I would love to hear from both sides: Share your stories or thoughts on women in STEM and household roles to start a meaningful conversation.

To the men:

• Do you have a wife or partner who is the house’s secret “Master Mechanic” or “Human Calculator”?

To the ladies:

• If you have a knack for fixing things and a head for numbers, what kept you away from the physical sciences or engineering? Was it really a dislike of math, or something else?

I want to hear your story. In fact, I want to host you on the STEAM Sparks podcast to help us spark and empower the next generation.

"In a two-dimensional world, you can only see, hear, and feel left and right, length and width, black and white. What happens when you consider other possible dimensions? Could up, down, and diagonal be a possibility? Could the Z-line be a possibility? Could other possibilities be a reality? Could you be like Jamie Fox in one of his music videos, saying, 'I have got options,' and ready to exhale!" ~ Dr. Ayo Olufade

#MyWife #WomenMonth #GirlsInSTEAM #WomenInSTEAM #WomenFixingThings #TheMathParadox #HiddenEngineers #GirlDad #HomeMaintenance #CareerPaths #CallingAllMen