I’m the wife who complains that her husband doesn’t know
where anything in the house is, who gets sick of turning his clothing right
side out when folding, who rolls her eyes when he asks if we have any soap,
batteries, gloves, butter. I sigh because his idea of a
great song is anything by Taylor Swift or Flo Rida, same as our ten-year-old. I grumble that he finds televised sports entertaining and holds out hope that I do, too.
I DO NOT FIND TELEVISED SPORTS ENTERTAINING.
I joke that he is my third kid. I decide what he eats and I make sure he has
clean clothes to wear. I ensure that his
living space is clean and comfortable. I
taught him that the Shake from the Shake ‘n’ Bake cannot be refrigerated and reused next month, how to
clean a bathroom, that children need to be given lessons repeatedly before
they learn. I gently remind him the
difference between “wander” and “wonder” and that he might consider saying “ain’t” a little less than he does. I continue to teach him
basic skills I can’t believe he doesn’t know already.
But
He is the one with the job that makes money to support our
family. He handles our taxes. He fixes the smoke detector when it chirps,
the dishwasher when it fills up, and takes care of any utility issues we have. He mows the lawn in the spring and summer,
rakes the leaves in the fall, and shovels the snow in the winter. He builds shelving systems out of planks of
wood. He makes most of our social
plans. When we go out he breaks the ice
with people. When he is away, I toss and
turn at night. When he is home, I sleep
like a baby.
And
I am the one without a plan, a schedule. I screw up every hotel reservation I
make. I don’t understand financial terms
or how health insurance works. When I
have a problem, I run to him for advice.
When we have to leave at 9:30, I am ready at ten. When we make vacation plans, I sit around
idly as he does all the work and makes all the decisions, and I nod my head as
he asks if the dates are okay. Sometimes
they’re not. When we go places together,
he drives. I am inept at directions and measurements. Like, I can’t read a measuring tape.
I joke that he’s my third kid.
But I’m pretty sure that I am his.
I relate to much of this! What a lovely little post.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! It makes me feel better - less of a nagging wifey - that others can relate. :)
DeleteYes! Just...yes. Especially the parts about finding things, taxes, and turning laundry right-side out!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mama D! I have to remind myself that for every thing that annoys me about him, there is at least one thing about me that annoys him.
DeleteAw, what a sweet post. I can relate. I'd be lost for sure.... I mean, without Todd - not Keith - but yeah, you knew what I meant. ;) Happy Monday! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jessi! In more frustrating times I start thinking how much easier life would be without this "extra child"; then I become aware of how much I'm fooling myself. ;)
DeleteAw! You two are a beautiful couple.
ReplyDeleteAnd you both add your strengths to the marriage! It makes total sense.
I worry that I'm my husband's third kid because I was so NON-domestic when we met. My blog is my third kid!
Thanks Tamara! It dawned on me that I am the third kid this weekend when I complained about unloading the dishwasher, after which I stomped upstairs to my bedroom and shut the door.
DeleteI quite turning by husbands clothes (especially his socks) right side out a long time ago - and it has saved my sanity :)
ReplyDeleteSeems like you and your husband are a good team!
My family had a good run for about two years turning their clothes right side out for that very reason - I was folding them however they go into the wash. The kids are old enough now to fold their own now, so I started dumping them unfolded onto their beds. I'll still fold my husband's, but even he has been lax about righting them. It drives me batty!
DeleteI love this! I can definitely relate because there are definitely times I think my husband is aloof and just doesn't get it. Have to keep in mind he's probably thinking the same about me when I ask him to make me breakfast or help with laundry or pick up after my mess for the millionth time.
ReplyDeleteIt's unconditional love and that's what makes it all worth it.
Yeah, I'm pretty lucky that mine puts up with all my shenanigans.
DeleteI am with @kerstin on the socks/laundry. Sometimes I just flat out pretend I didn't notice it was inside out and I fold i that way. It drives me bonkers…how they don't realize something so simple could save US so much time.
ReplyDeleteBut you're right to point out that the street goes both ways. Shame on me.
xoxo
love this, you!
Thank you Erin! I fold them inside out sometimes, too, but I always make a point to loudly announce what I've discovered: "You forgot to right your laundry and I had to fix three shirts and two pairs of pants when folding today." It literally renders him speechless. And then I feel silly, because really, I don't think he cares at all. ;)
DeleteThe ending made me giggle (and all warm and fuzzy). We have many of the same roles in the house, but I am most definitely the planner and the ice breaker in the relationship. I have to correct my husband on wary and weary and explain the difference between this and that. He still doesn't get it after all these years. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jennie! I always feel like the world's biggest nag when I correct him but he doesn't seem to mind. :)
DeleteIsn't it awesome how husbands and wives balance each other out!!
ReplyDeleteAlthough the inside out clothes sent me over the edge so I put an end to it with my boys (and husband) years ago - I charged a dollar a shirt to "fix" it! In about 8 years I've only collected about $3 and it made my life so much easier!!!
Wow what a great idea Kim! This reminds me to do the laundry, I'm almost out of $$...
DeleteIt sounds like whatever you want to call it, you're a perfect match. And that is exactly as it should be. But yeah, the inside out laundry thing? Puts me over the edge nearly every laundry day.
ReplyDeleteThanks, MJ! Yeah, the laundry thing -- oooof.
DeleteAw - seriously so sweet and rings so true here too. xo
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tracy. I'm almost at the point when I think of something he does that drives me nuts, I think of something I do that drives him nuts. Almost.
DeleteHaha - so funny. And so true. I think it works pretty much that way here, too.
ReplyDeleteIt feels good to know that many of us have the same relationship configuration.
DeleteWhat a wonderful portrait of your husband! An honest description with a surprisingly heart warming twist.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tammy! I really appreciate that. :)
DeleteAw.... Andrea!
ReplyDeleteYou are a perfect pair, in other words.
Perfectly imperfect, I think. :)
DeleteI love your fit. It's really similar to ours -- which doesn't surprise me in the least. xo
ReplyDeleteMe either. And thank you. xo
DeleteSo sweet! It's all about balance, right? I relate to this, Andrea!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kim! It is a balance, isn't it? That one thing that we are always working on, in every way.
DeleteYou sound like a great team, Andrea! Very nice!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Susan! I would do well to remember this from time to time when I get tired of folding yet another pair of underwear. :)
DeleteMarriage is a partnership and I love how the two of you compliment each other to make it a great one. This post is awesomeness. Especially that pic of the two of you together. Hotties! :)
ReplyDeleteWow - thanks Elaine! I love the top pic of my husband - I call it "cute Keith." I have another one I call "hot Keith." I keep that one all to myself. :)
DeleteI absolutely love this. I always joke about that same thing, even teasing Christian by asking him "Do you even live here???" when he doesn't know where something goes or where to find it. But yes on all the crap I don't want to do. (He is the resident vacuumer and toilet cleaner.)
ReplyDelete