Isn’t The “Tradwife” Thing Just About Economic Realities And The Need For Attention?

Seems that way.

Ted Bauer
6 min readApr 28, 2023

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Right when COVID first hit, I was living in a rental house in the Alamo Heights section of Fort Worth. Down the street a few blocks from me was a couple with three young kids. I honestly forget their names; I think his was maybe Dave or Eric or something. She was what I’d call “conventionally attractive,” give or take (insofar as that term exists): she was blond, and tall/fit/busty. Once COVID slapped us all in the mouth and gyms closed, she used to work out along the street with her kids — i.e. running with a stroller, doing dips on the curb, etc. I had this random across-the-street neighbor, whose name I also now forget (Tom?), and he had gone to bars with me a couple of times before COVID. We had each other’s phone numbers. I was maybe 39 at the time, and he was probably 62. Masculinity and male friendship is nuts.

Whenever this wife was working out and doing dips on the curb or running and “bouncing,” my sketch neighbor would text me and be like “She’s at it again!” with some weird emoji of like, mouth watering. Meanwhile, society seemed to be on fire and Trump was saying “14 days to stop the spread.” It was a confusing time.

One time I got bored, as was wanton to happen during COVID, and I found out the lady’s name and…

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Ted Bauer
Ted Bauer

Written by Ted Bauer

I write about a lot of different topics, from work to masculinity to relationships and social dynamics, I.e. modern friendship. Pleasure to be here.