Husband at Home?

I don't know if this is a real quote but I always thought it was funny:

"I first learned the concepts of non-violence in my marriage." -- Mohandas K. Gandhi

Basically, the day I cut back to working 1-2 days a week (1 year ago), my empty-nester wife stepped out and took on fulltime work in a large church. It revitalized her spirit. She feels wanted. Now it's my turn to get irritated at her when she has a day off work and messes my tidy home, throws laundry on floor, leaves dishes, etc. She really likes this partial role reversal, having been a stay at home mom for 22 years.

Sounds like you're being a good sport about it.

My husband works full-time, but on his off days you surely know he's home. I don't know what it is about some men when they are relaxing at home. That is truly what they do relax he leaves a paper trail all over the place from the living room to the bathroom he takes his socks off in the laundry area but leaves them on the floor instead of just tossing them in the basket ready available at his feet. He makes such a mess in the kitchen with his coffee grains and stains all over the counter and refuses to replace the toilet paper roll when its empty. What the hell is wrong with men they act as if they are truly the kings of a royal palace. I love my hubby but I hate it at times when he's home with me. He can be such a pig or maybe its just that I 'm a neat freak a place for everything and everything in its place.

My wife and I have had his and hers offices for almost 15 years and she is not yet retired although I am. Well, partially retired. I still have a part time private practice and a part time business. But we have two separate offices that allow us each private time while still being together.

The fact that out marriage is now in its forty-first year with no signs of erosion says that, for us, our way works.

Both of us began writing in our mid-forties which dictated the need for private space. But many years later, we found that having a retreat within our home gave us a way of having a complete marriage and a private life as well.

Because both of us have had careers that involved some travel, we have taken separate trips for conferences, speeches and once, for me, a book tour. No problem. While she was working a couple of years ago, I spent some time in Rio because I always wanted to go there and she didn't especially have an interest.

It isn't how much time a couple spends together. it is the quality of that time that counts.

My hubby has a workshop and does keep busy. But he is in the house more and more and I am finding it drives me a bit crazy at times. He has a tendency to "organize" things for me--like putting the soup cans in alphabetical order! I told him I will go out in his shop and "organize" his tools for him! He did not take kindly to that comment. The little jobs I would like him to do, never get done. I am thinking of volunteering more or consulting more because I think 24/7 togetherness will drive me crazy.

Rox ..

IMHO ..there is nothing wrong with organizing the cupboard and lining up the cans and boxes and paper stuff in logical, neatly spaced and organized in such a manner that inventory can be taken at a "near glance" for the shopping list.

Nor date label organizing the frozen food to prevent freezer burn,,,nor adjusting the washer/fryer controls in advance of the next load of underwear/whites..nor putting cleaning products unde the sink in an order of functionality and use.

Cleaning off the kitchen table ..putting the mail in a basket for easy access..

Etc ..Etc ..Etc ...\\ Ha Ha Ha Ha....

My Yvonne's mother calls me a "Clean Freak"..!

Yvonne dose'nt;t care ..I give her the mail, the check book and the "money honey"..! When I get out of control ..she throws things on the ground and says to me "there, now it looks like people live here">>!!!!

Froggy