ADVICE FROM A RETIRED HUSBAND
It is important for men to remember that,
as women grow older, it becomes harder for
them to maintain the same quality of house
keeping as when they were younger. When
this becomes apparent, try not to yell at them.
Some are oversensitive, and there's nothing
worse than an oversensitive woman.
My name is Ron. Let me relate how I handled
this situation with my wife, Carol. When I retired
a few years ago, it became necessary for Carol to
get a full-time job, along with her part-time job,
both for extra income and for the health benefits
that we needed. Shortly after she started working,
I noticed she was beginning to show her age.
I usually get home from the golf club about the
same time she gets home from work.
Although she knows how hungry I am, she almost
always says she has to rest for half an hour or so
before she starts dinner. I don't yell at her.
Instead, I tell her to take her time and just wake me
when she gets dinner on the table. I generally have
lunch in the Grill at the golf club, so eating out is not
an option for us in the evening. I'm ready for some
home-cooked food when I walk through that door.
She used to do the dishes as soon as we finished
eating but now it's not unusual for them to sit on
the table for several hours after dinner.
I do what I can by diplomatically reminding her several
times each evening that they won't clean themselves.
I know she really appreciates this, as it does seem to
motivate her to get them done before she goes to bed..
Another symptom of aging is complaining, I think.
For example, she will say that it is difficult for her to find
time to pay the monthly bills during her lunch hour, but
chaps, we take them for better or worse, so I just smile
and offer encouragement. I tell her to stretch it out over
two, or even three days. That way, she won't have to rush
so much. I also remind her that missing lunch completely
now and then would help her figure. I like to think tact is
one of my strong points.
When doing simple jobs, she seems to think she needs
more rest periods. She had to take a break when she was
only half-finished mowing the lawn. I tried not to make a
scene. I'm a fair man. I told her to fix herself a nice, big,
cold glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, and just relax
for a while. And, as long as she is making one for herself,
she might as well make one for me too.
I know that I probably look like a saint in the way I support
Carol. I'm not saying that showing this much patience &
consideration is easy. Many men would find it difficult if not
impossible. Nobody knows better than I do how frustrating
women get as they get older. However, Chaps, even if you
just use a little more tact and less criticism of your aging
wife as a result of reading this article, I will consider that
writing it was well worthwhile. After all, we are put on this
earth to help each other.
Ron died suddenly of a perforated rectum after publishing
this letter. The police report says he was found with a
Calloway extra-long 50-inch Big Bertha Driver II golf club
jammed up his rear end, with barely 5 inches of grip showing.
A sledge hammer was laying nearby.
His wife Carol, was arrested and charged with murder. The
all-woman jury took only 9 minutes to find her "Not Guilty",
accepting her defense that Ron, somehow without looking,
accidentally sat down on his golf club.