Since I was in the half bath water closet, the one Hubby uses the most, I knew it was he who had replaced the toilet roll and replaced it incorrectly. I was irritated that after 31 years of marriage he would not only put it on the wrong way but that he didn't remember that I preferred it the other way.
Then I thought, after 31 years of marriage, did he do it on purpose? Was it an act of passive aggression?
So then I got to thinking about other little things like that that can harm a marriage. I mean, who hasn't heard about people getting divorced because she always squeezed the toothpaste from the top or he never put the toilet seat down?
Grounds for divorce?
Sounds extreme but then those little things can add up, especially if they are used to irritate the other partner. And this time of year with all of the stresses of the holiday season, those little things can turn into big things. I mean, who wants to think their spouse has a New Year's Resolution to kick them to the curb?
So as a public service - and you know I am always here to help - here are some "little things" that could add up for grounds for divorce.
Now I need to preface my list with the fact that I think we get many of our pet peeves from our parents. So my list is rather heavy with the things that drove my Dad crazy. Thanks, Dad, they now drive me crazy.
See if you are guilty of any of these.
Never putting something back where it belongs.
Scotch tape, scissors, the stapler...ever have to go looking for those things all of the time, right when you are in the middle of wrapping a gift or needing to open up one of those products that is so well wrapped in plastic only slicing the thing with scissors can help?
I was brought up to put things back where I found them and woe to me if my father could not find the scissors and they were found in my bedroom (we must have not had much money, because why did we only have one pair of scissors?). So I am very good about putting things back where they belong. The Hubby is not. To avoid divorce, I keep an extra pair of scissors in my office and have my own scotch tape and stapler.
Taking off his shoes and leaving them where I can fall over them and really hurt myself.
This is a serious issue. Did you know that when you get to be a certain age, falling down is such a serious issue that you could die from it? Well, now you know.
You could say he might be doing it on purpose, but I don't have life insurance so there really isn't any motivation to knock me off so I just think he's not thinking. Growing up, if my Dad would trip over our shoes, he would have a fit and throw them outside. We were warned. So I carry on the tradition. Hubby has been warned.
Going to Costco or the grocery store without telling me
Let's just say that Hubby is a pacer. He gets bored so he goes off to Costco just for the fun of it or for something to do. But the problem is, he forgets I HAVE A LIST! He gets back from Costco with his new winter wardrobe, a gallon of gin and a new TV and I'm out of chicken broth and canned diced tomatoes.
Never hearing his cell phone
Now this could be the ultimate in passive aggression. For some reason, Hubby carries a cell phone but it is always turned off or he doesn't answer, which is particularly irritating when I actually DO know he has gone to Costco and I remember something else he needs to get that is not on the list. Funny how he never answers the phone when I need him to, but he has no problem pocket dialing me by accident when he is traveling.
Hello? Hellooo? Helloooooo? Helloooooo? HUBBY HANG UP THE PHONE!!!!
Falling asleep
I have always had the suspicion that Hubby was narcoleptic because of his ability to just fall asleep anywhere. When he used to have long commutes from Silicon Valley, he told me that sometimes he would have to pull over because the hot late afternoon sun was lulling him to sleep.
His safety while driving home is one thing, but explain to me why, when we are sitting in the living room watching the riveting finale of "The Bachelor" and I say, "Wow. What did you think of that?" when I look over at him, his head is lolled back, mouth gaping open and there is drool. Not sure how long he's been out. Now that is insulting. Yes, I know he gets up earlier than I do but when we finally have quality time together (watching "The Bachelor" together is considered quality time), I can usually expect that he will fall asleep during some of that time and that implies boredom to me. "You are so boring you make me fall asleep" is how that makes me feel.
However, I prefer to think of Hubby as the narcoleptic dog.
He is so excited to be in my company that he falls asleep. It's an actual phenomenon. I know it's not funny, but this narcoleptic dog gets excited about something like eating or escaping and falls instantly asleep. I don't feed Hubby canned food and I haven't found him asleep with his head in the dog dish yet but it's close. So I like to think that that puts "the pleasure of your company" into a whole "nother category."
"I thought"
"I thought" are two of the worst words in the English language when used together as in "I thought it was a good idea to store my six-pack of tonic water on top of the TV" or "I thought you would like a vacuum cleaner for Christmas." "I thought" is the same as assuming and you know what they say when you assume?
Another bad word is "You."
I know I am guilty of this myself. My Dad told me long ago that "you" was a bad, accusing word as in "You don't care about anyone but yourself" or "You forgot to buy me a birthday present." We know we are supposed to say, "I feel bad when you don't care about anyone but yourself" and "I feel sad when you forget to buy me a birthday present." I guess that's supposed to make saying that stuff better.
Putting his shirts in the dirty clothes without unbuttoning them
Yeah, why unbutton your shirt when someone else is around with no time on her hands who will have to unbutton it for you when it comes time for HER to iron YOUR shirt?!
Thinking you can just say anything you want to your spouse
...like telling your significant other she looks fat, old or crabby. Basically, keep your comments to yourself unless they are nice. Didn't your mother tell you that if you couldn't say something nice to shut the...well, she didn't say that exactly but she said "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Probably good advice. Hubby has never dared say I was putting on weight or that I looked old. However, "crabby" comes up a lot.
So that is my personal list of possible grounds for divorce.
It may or may not apply to you. I am sure you have your own deal breakers where your spouse or significant other is concerned.
But these things have a way of evening out. I know I do things that irritate Hubby, too, such as not allowing him to turn on the heat until I get up (the noise bothers my beauty sleep) and he gets up three hours before I do; making him put up a baby gate at the foot of the stairs so the dogs can't come up and whine at the bedroom door, again, robbing me of much needed beauty sleep. Or my shopping. Seventy-five jackets and counting. Or trying too many new recipes and having too many leftovers. He has mini-meltdowns every couple of days, "Cripes. Who is going to eat all of this food?!"
I probably shouldn't be dwelling on negatives. This time of year we are supposed to count our blessings.
And I do. I have Hubby, two successful, happily married children, grandchildren, three dogs who love me very much, we live comfortably, I am enjoying being retired, and I have my health (so far).
I know I probably can't change any of these little irritants on my list. When we first get into a relationship, we think we can change our partners. But in the end, we can only change ourselves and how we react to what bothers us. I can choose to get upset every time I can't find the scissors (most of the time I do) or I can choose to make a fuss every time I have to unbutton Hubby's shirts to iron them (I don't).
In general, after 31 years of marriage, I realize it's too late to change HIM. I have to change ME. I have to change how I react to all of those things that irritate me so much. And I can certainly try to change those things that irritate him about ME.
In general, after 31 years of marriage, I realize it's too late to change HIM. I have to change ME. I have to change how I react to all of those things that irritate me so much. And I can certainly try to change those things that irritate him about ME.
So what better time of year than now to make some changes, some New Year's Resolutions, if you will?
No, not to get a divorce over trivial irritants. But to resolve to not let those everyday issues get in the way of the big picture and cause marital discord- to realize that I love that guy even if he falls asleep during "The Amazing Race" and leaves his shoes where I could trip over them and die. And I resolve to work on the issues that irritate him like making so much food and feeling like I need another jacket.
But dammit, that toilet roll better roll off the top!
Thanks for Reading!
See you Friday
for my review of the new movie
"The Hunger Games:
Mockingjay Part 2"
and
The Week in Reviews
(What to See or Read and What to Avoid)
and the latest on
My 1001 Movies I Must See Before
I Die Project."
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