Marriage 101: The Dish Duty Dilemma

               Dishes.

 The one thing everyone debates about in a house hold. While splitting the chores is great there always is the dish dilemma lurking in the shadows. I was unfortunate enough to have moved into an apartment where ther is no dishwasher, so we have to pay extra attention to trying to do the dishes on a regular basis. Our standing of "Mount Dishalicious" stands as an awful reminder of the "Whose turn is it to do the dishes?" game. Often times couples have this very problem and one spouse or the other gives in because it gets pretty embarrassing when you can see your creation of dish art can be seen two stories down and a half a block away,from the outside of your apartment complex window. I know it's hard to muster up the courage and do the dishes, especially when the dish water smells like a sewer, but we all need to do better at this so here are things we can all do to make the dishes a bit easier:
  
    -Put water in dishes immediately, so they soak and stuff isn't suck on there.
    -Eat at the table, it makes the reminder of dish duty a big red flag so you do it faster
    -If its silverware, wash it immediately.....it's easy and takes five seconds
    -Everyday, collect every dish from anywhere in the house and put all dirty dishes in the sink with
          fresh, hot water
  
Now that we have an idea of what can make it easier, let'stry to fix that arguement of  "Who does the dishes tonight?"
   
      -Make a chore chart
      -Split up days, and do it every other day
      -Make a sign that politely states to wash out the dish right after using
      -Prompt each other to be better at not leaving dishes about the house
      -Always be complimentary for good behavior

Sometimes, it gets to the point of being annoyed over not doing dishes and having it build up. Don't let it get to that point. Make it easier on yourself and your spouse......Pick and choose your battles! This shouldn't be a battle....after all....it's only dishes.

Marriage 101: The Toilet Seat Debate

     Whether you grew up as an only child or in a house full of boys, there is one common problem we all seem to run into on a daily basis. Being as I was an only child, when I married my husband, I learned fairly quickly to look before sitting down to do business. Which leads my to my topic of the day: Toilet Seat Debate.
     It was my first really significant arguement I had with my husband when we got married and started living together. The first few weeks I fell in quite regularly, and each time he simply would ask why I hadn't looked. Exasperatedly, I always replied, "Why don't you just put the seat down?" and our day would go on.
     However, soon I became irritated and things blew up when I had fallen in enough times. Men rationalize the woman should look, women think the man should be more thoughtful. It's not easy going from living in an apartment in college with all girls to living with a guy and figuring his ways out. So here is what I've gathered from my marriage: no begging or pleading is going to get my guy to put that seat down. End of story.
    
      So here is what you can do to fix the problem:

               -Write a reminder note that sits in front of the toilet
               -Ask him every time he exits the bathroom
               -Remind him it can be a health hazard
               -Reward good behavior
               -Always give compliments for his remembering
               -Make him clean the toilet once in a while so he sees if he makes a mess
               -Persistance and Patience are key elements!

    I have yet to get mine to the next level, but come to an agreement on it......and as always show love and affection towards one another. It's a small problem......it can be fixed with care and compassion, and maybe alittle nudge from time to time. We love our spouse, let's love them alittle more today than we did yesterday!