Julia Proverbs: Master chef in the house

What I am about to write will make many women - if not all - green with envy.

In our house hubby cooks all the meals.

It is a tradition that evolved BC (before children) out of his necessity to, well, eat.

Never much of a domestic goddess, I would faff around until all hours, before finally throwing a few eggs and frozen veges at the frying pan, calling it an omelette.

Whereas he would whip up a Thai curry, pasta dish or seafood feast in no time - and on time. So, it was the right and natural thing to step aside.

As far as housewifely stereotypes go, I am not it.

Which is giving our daughters an interesting take on life. And I apologise now to their future husbands who can hope for, at best, two-minute noodles.

I only realised this when, as the girls and I left a friend's house late one afternoon, Miss Five surmised that when we got home Daddy would be cooking dinner (which of course he was).

"Because dads cook the dinner," she said, all knowledgeable.

"Well, actually", I began to educate her, "in most houses the mum cooks the dinner."

She said nothing but looked at me so incredulously, I could tell she thought I was telling the world's biggest porky.

"It's true," I tried to convince her.

"Nah," she giggled.

"Really, it's true," I repeated, with my most convincing face. "Daddy cooks in our house because he's a better cook than Mummy."

(Unedited version: He's the ONLY cook in our house because Mummy hates cooking and even if she didn't, she's so disorganised you would never get to eat until midnight.)

Looking slightly concerned, she sought to reassure me. "But Mummy, you make really good porridge."

Bless.

Well, they do say breakfast is the most important meal of the day.