How to recognize when your wife is ready to murder...(and you had better wake up!!!)

[Larry_OHF]

I thought you would like to hear a nice success story of Karen and me. She is in school full-time, driving an hour to and from UNCG. Also, MaryBeth is in the middle of her "Terrible Two's". Lately, more so than comfortable or normal for her...Karen has been neglecting her homework, waiting until every dish in the house is dirty before washing only what is necassary, and having alot of stressful build-up in her shoulder muscles that makes her complain even worse. Well,,,as I am classed as an Observant Analytical...I noticed that I was getting ready for some real trouble coming soon. Karen is not one to neglect her school work, nor have little to do with the baby, MaryBeth. So...I concluded that she was feeling the strain of having too much to do. Now, it is her job to wash dishes, and mine to clean the bathroom, mop the floors, and do laundry. I have been doing so. Well I went out on a limb and asked Karen if she wanted to exchange some duties...that I would wash dishes if she did laundry.

Can you beleive the effect that had on her? She was so willing to negotiate, she was already washing a load of colors within the hour! True to my word, I began the labor of washing every dish that we own...which took me over an hour to do...and from then on, I wash dishes immediately after dinner each night.

The change has been wonderful! She is happy, doing her work, her school work, the baby is happier...a damned rainbow is floating over my home. All because I now do dishes which to Karen was a heavier chore than laundry.

Now for the lesson part...Guys, if you want to make your girlfriends, wives, concubines, and harlots happier...get off your ass and do something ! I was doing alot,,,but it was not what she wanted. She is perfectly fine doing the laundry, and as long as the dishes are clean...well, then everybody is happy. Some of you have a dish washer, and it is easier, and maybe your wife does not mind...but at least ask her which chore she dreads most...and could you do it in her stead...and you will be amazed at the change that comes over her. Oh...and remember to use protection when engaged in the activity of her thanking you...the last thing you need is more tiny feet running around screaming.

This has been Larry Woodruff broadcasting live from his home PC on Home Improvement.

Edit to try to make the post show up on GenCon.
It was not showing up before I typed this message...

[ 09-30-2002, 10:17 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Mack_Attack]

I feel alot like you in your situation. We have a new four month old baby. And at this age she is beutiful little girl but a handful. And it takes so much work for me and my wife to do all the little things like dishes laundry and cleaning. You are right by saying it has to be a team effort.
My job keeps me away from home 12 hours a day. So I go to work at 7 in the morning and I get home at 7 at night. And when I get home I help with the dishes and I take the time to bath and get baby Sydney ready for bed. And with out this coperation I am sure things would not be pleasant in the house hold.

So what larry says, he hits the nail right on the head.

[johnny]

You could have surprised her with a dishwasher, saves a lot of trouble.

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

I REALLY hope Kaltia DOESNT see this... she might get some ideas... [img]tongue.gif[/img] *runs*

[/)eathKiller]

Yeah for some reason dishes are considered harder to do than the laundrey...
oh I just remembered... I have to wash the dishes...

[Larry_OHF]

Sorry for the double-posted thread. I tried to post it yesterday, and it didn't show up for 10 minutes, so I posted it again. Now both are in existance. I will quote from the other one, and then delete it.

Quoted from True_Moose Well, I guess now I must commit to a vow of celibacy. After all, women don't want to do the dishes, and I am completely unable to! Not to mention...doing homework? Whoa, that's a new concept Good to hear things are workin out Larry. I've still got a few more years before I worry about the "terrible twos" again.

Quoted from Azred I'm glad that the problems that can be caused by stress were successfully avoided! I know Belle lets things get to her every now and then, at which point I tell her to sit back, relax, and do nothing. I've done everything around the house before, and can easily do so again. However, since she doesn't like to sit on her duff and be lazy, we wind up doing the chores together. This, of course, means that everything is done faster and we can have some wonderful down-time. So, guys, listen to Larry. Nothing will make her happier than to see you putting effort into the relationship, the house, and in taking some of the load off her, even if her load isn't really that big.

Quoted from Leonis Larry! My wife wasn't quite sure where our laundry was for a couple of years! (I almost always do laundry, she almost always cleans the bathroom). I usually cook and do the dishes as the time differences in our work seems to have panned out this way. But since I just started a second job and have hardly any time at all, and she suddenly has more free time, she's taken over most of the housework seamlessly. It all boils down to looking after and out for each other - if you both try to make the other's life as easy as possible you defy physics and carry each other along. Thanks for the post, man!

[ 10-01-2002, 09:06 AM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Attalus]

Galadria washes the dishes, I do the pots and pans. She won't even let me do the dishes because "I don't do them right." Also, I cook when she doesn't feel like it. And take Will (BTW, Larry, age 4 is much better than two, so hang on!).

[J.J.]

Good 4 U, Larry, finding out what chores your mate does not like and doing them is a great way to foster harmonius house. A problem can be if you both hate the same things.....or she starts taking it for granted and then expects you to do more........ [img]graemlins/nono.gif[/img]

single for another 4 years minimum, 'cause the gypsy said so...

[Morgeruat]

I know what you mean Larry, Christi and I trade duties alot, especially since Erilyn came, and we tend to alternate, the person with moer free time doing what really needs done, and then the other picking up the rest when we're able, and it works out, I tend to do teh dishes more lately, and she does the laundry (she complains that I don't do it right, I mean white is white, isn't it? why do you need a "warm" setting, lol), and the rest we usually do together.

[RevRuby]

i hate dishes, i hate laundry too, but it's a lot less wet when i have to play with it. and i can sit on my duff to fold it! the warm setting for white clothes gets them cleaner than the cold. and the cold is for clothes that may fade or have pictures that may wish to wash off completely in warm. at least that's how i've always seen it. silly man!