The Dishwashing Harridan
What the heck is it with me and having the dishes washed anyhow?
OK, last night I get home from work, and the dishes aren’t cleaned. Again. So I ask myself: “Is this really worth getting bent out of shape about? Do you really want to go down in the annals of history as the harpy who wouldn’t let up about having the dishes washed?” The answer, of course, was a resounding no.
So I sucked it in. I started in on the dirty dishes (which had to be done because I needed some of those pots to cook with). And I was actually OK with it. I was feeling cocky because I wasn’t pissed off, I was just doing it and not getting into a mood.
The Professor comes out to the kitchen as I’m doing the final pot and says “you should have told me … I’d have done them.” And that triggered it. I was pissed again.
He asked what was wrong. This time, rather unlike me, I told him. “I am not your keeper. You know that the dishes are your job. I refuse to be designated the official nag around this place just because you can’t remember to do the dishes.” OK, you get the idea.
He muttered something about not having had enought time to do them. His schedule has him hitting the sack at about 6 am and getting up two or three in the afternoon. On a good day, I’m home shortly after four o’clock. THAT one really blew my gasket. “So what were you doing all last night that you couldn’t do the dishes? You’re awake until six in the morning, you could have done them then.” Etc. Please understand, I am not proud of this. But he started it, and I was pissed.
His excuse is that he is used to just leaving dishes lie around until they are needed for something again. This whole anal “gotta get the dishes done” thing is new to him. (Anal?) OK, deep breath time. He promises to get better about it. That’s what I want, right? So there’s no point in harping. As previously stated, I do not want to be a nag.
Today, I get home from work on the later side, close to five. He greets me with “I remembered to do the dishes!”. Hey, great! Our little talk worked. I go out to the kitchen. The sink still has most of the utensils in it. He washed plates and pots, but left the knives, forks and spoons behind.
I let it go. What else can I do? I have to believe that some day I’ll look back on these diary entries and laugh. Right now, though, I have some utensils to wash.
LOL Hey at least he did wash the pots and pans. Thats major progress and something hopeful. Seems like my H asks me what I need, I tell him, and it still doesnt happen as many times as I say it to him. So be glad he did something in one day! YAY! Professor! lol
Thank you for your note. Now if I could only feel that way.*S*
Ha!! This reminds me SO much of my wife and i years ago. i was the dish washer. i would always put it off and forget. She would end up doing them. Eventually i *did* remember to do them, but i didn’t do the pots and pans. i feel for you. i sometimes wonder how my wife didn’t kill me.
i’m just glad that over the years i *have* gotten better.
Oh, by the way, if you don’t say something, he’ll never take the hint. It’s an ugly fact of life that someone has to cattle-prod grown men into assuming their responsibilities. We too often have our heads in places where we do not see the sun shining…
Yes, one day you WILL laugh at this! I’ve been thrugh it with S too… sounds like it’s no new issue by the looks of your comments! I used to get mad too, but like you decided it really wasn’t worth fighting over. Now I just do them. It just never occures to him that dishes are a priority. I guess that’s just something I have to live with. But you are right… it’s not worth getting bent out of shape about. Take care and beware of dishpan hands!