In July of 2003 I was at the Bulk Barn, using big plastic paddles to transfer pound upon pound of peanut butter from 5 gallon buckets to small, flimsy plastic containers. My arms were full of tubs of peanut butter and my fingers were covered with it by the time I got to the check out.
The ladies behind me couldn’t help but ask why I was buying the store out of peanut butter and I explained that it was for my wedding favors. We were making jam and putting it in small jars and I was filling matching jars with peanut butter. Both would be wrapped up in cellophane with a ribbon and a note saying…
“Some things are just meant to be together.”
There were many “aaaah”s and the older lady in line ahead of me turned to me and congratulated me on my upcoming nuptials.
She proceeded to tell me that she’d been married for 60 years and she asked if she could share with me the secret of a happy marriage. I said, “Please do!”
“It’s simple,” she said. “You just have to make him think that what you want him to do was really his own idea. If you want him to paint the kitchen, start talking about the paint always looking dingy. Tell him the kitchen is dark and you don’t enjoy cooking in there. He’ll eventually say that he thinks it’s time to paint the kitchen and you won’t be accused of being a nag!”
I loved her advice and I try to use her strategy when I think of it.
Our clothesline is attached to our tenant’s back doorstep. She uses her clothesline everyday and I also love to use a clothesline to dry laundry whenever I can. I mentioned to my husband months ago that I’d like to have a clothesline of my own from our back deck.
He told me I should work out a schedule with the other woman. I told him that was silly and that if I hung laundry over there right at her screen door it would feel intrusive.
He didn’t seem to think I needed a clothesline and I was getting frustrated every time I turned on the dryer on a sunny, breezy day.
Then I had an idea. I opened up the latest electric bill and showed it to him. I said that last summer I saved $20 a month on our electric bill by using the clothesline.
The next day he was getting me set up.
Today looks like a perfect drying day so I’m off to find my clothespins.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh my god that is so funny!
Thanks for the chuckle!
You are a little MAN-ipulator! What a trick!!
This old lady is very clever. I like her advice. I’ve used this without thinking really and it works! I should cleverly think a little more about the honey-do list and plot a perfect comment to have things done around the house. Thanks for sharing the story with us!
Can you come visit and try something like that with Kevin? I’ve tried all the tricks in the book, and all I get is “ya, I’ll do that after I feed the chickens, or when I need a break from mowing the lawn”. I’m about to go on strike soon, if I don’t get my clothesline.
One other method I’ve found successful is just casually saying, “Ok. No problem. I’ll just get Dad to do it for me.” Testosterone/ego kicks in. Problem solved.
I was just talking to my friend about this, and she suggested that her and I do it ourselves……hmmmmmmm she may be on to something. I’ve done the “I’m calling Jamie (my brother) and he’ll get it up for me, don’t worry about it, you are too busy”. I think it will be really funny seeing us two girls diging post holes and screwing in those big hooks…LOL