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Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Why is it that when men do the dishes they don't clean the counter tops and the bits of food off the sink? Is this not included in "doing the dishes?" Is it something medical that the male eye cannot see (much like shoes on the floor and light bulbs that have gone out)? If so, it should be studied by the New England Journal of medicine. It really is the oddest thing. Maybe it's the same medical condition that keeps them from smelling a dirty diaper or hearing a baby in the night. Please explain....I'm waiting.
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11 comments:
First of all let me say I have an amazing husband who is very good about helping me out around the house. But, I have wondered the same thing about the countertops. The kitchen can look spotless, except for the countertops. Glad to know mine's not the only one!!
Men are task oriented in that if you ask them to do a task, they seek definition and then complete the task withing the parameters of the definition. In 32 years of marriage (and perhaps having something to do with MY male being an engineer), I've learned to be a specific as possible when asking. Ridiculous to us I know. First of all, it's not "doing the dishes". It's "cleaning the kitchen which includes dishes, counter tops, stove top, properly COVERING food and putting in fridge" etc.
I know, it's ridiculous to us. But ask them to vacuum the carpet and they will - but then don't think to put the vacuum BACK in the closet. I don't know what it is truthfully because I actually WITNESSED Tim wiping down the countertops AND asking me to use a specific sponge for the dishes because the OTHER one if for cleaning the sink afterwords. Perhsps these things skip a generation.
Okay, I don't know. Tried to explain it but just can't.
I'm sorry, I was unaware men even did dishes!
Okay, so funny, and I can totally relate. Jonathan and I have a deal. He does the clean-up after dinner, then my job is to go back and fine tune things (that is what he calls it). We started this because I used to get soooo frustrated at him for not completely cleaning up the kitchen. He always left about 3 things left unfinished. How he could not tell it wasn't finished, I'm not sure, but our new deal seems to work!
I have studied this quite a bit. Another thing I notice, when they volunteer to do the dishes (yes, it does happen) but then as soon as you settle down for a relaxing night off you here them say "I'll do it before I go to bed".
Which, as we all know, only means that I will have to do it when I wake in the morning or the whole house will smell bad. So then I end up getting up to do it myself, and then he says (rather poutingly) "I said I would do the dishes".
No, you won't. I know you.
Also, if you figure this out please figure out my number one question for the last 5 1/2 years: why can the dirty laundry end up IN FRONT of the hamper, but not actually in it?
Brain? Hello? Are you speaking FROM me TO Nathan through Emily's blog? What is it about the countertops and stove top?
The best is when you cooked dinner and then go in the kitchen while their on the couch and you unload the dishwasher (ineveitably a loud task) and then you load the dishwasher all except the last cup and then they come in the kitchen and state, "Babe, I would have done that." Like they never even heard what was occuring until they walk in "to rescue you."
I can't complain TOO much. Nathan hasn't made me clean a bathroom in three years.
Its the same medical condition that gives them man colds
:)
Two things from a male perspective (am I the only one that actually reads this blog?)
1. Cheri hit it right on the head. Always be specific, but ask nicely, and don't be rude if we don't do it exactly right, but be VERY nice if we do it right. The happier we see that you are, the more likely we are to do it exactly the way you told us to without even asking next time. Yes, treat us like 7 year-olds.
2. We learn to do that as soon as you learn to stop talking to us in bed.
Timing has a lot to do with. Don't ask right after dinner or right before bed. Also, I could have sworn I wiped down the sink! I guess I am going to have to check this blog more often to see what else is being said about me.
No, they truly don't see it and yet, these are the same guys who will wash their cars by hand to avoid spots on the chrome. Go figure!
My husband will leave the rinsed off dishes stacked on the kitchen counter ready to be put into the dishwasher. When the dishwasher is already empty!
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