I was thinking about advice about marriage that I would pass down to my children and at the top of the list was this little tidbit:
Do not expect romance if your wife (or for Margaret - you) is the only only who cleans the bathroom.
No one says 'not tonight honey' quicker than a woman holding a toilet bowl brush and a bottle of Lysol. If you love your spouse - get someone else to clean the bathroom. Luckily, I only have one bathroom (I never thought I would say that) but I have FOUR men folk using it. Ick.
Yesterday we took the kids out to eat for dinner. It was more for us than them because on such a beautiful day - who wants to make dinner. We had a pleasant time - everyone used their manners and used their 'inside' voices while we were inside (imagine that!). On the way home everyone was all worked up and everyone (everyone meaning all three of my children) wanted to talk at the same time. I was trying to listen to what everyone was saying but it gets hard. Then the arguments break out between the boys and now Margaret was chiming in with "I was talking first!" Then we have to have 5 minutes of insanity in the car while they all are yelling "I WAS TALKING FIRST!!!!".
And i want to drive off the road into the lake. I don't, of course, and just turn the music up a little louder and just laugh and smile and say 'ah ha' after I hear any child say something. Eventually it gets worked out and we arrive home - sanity still in place. Well, as close to in place as it ever was.
We are having some beautiful weather here in the Northeast. Gorgeous blue skies and perfect temperatures. The grass and trees are so green and their are spots of color here and there. The kids have been spending much time outside and we all have been getting our lungs filled with wonderful and regenerating fresh air.
In other big news - Stephen Ian has a little crush going on with a GIRL! Her name is Corina and she is the cutest thing. Tall, thin and long dirty blond hair. Her Mom moved in across the road and we had them and some other friends over for a big campfire and fireworks on Sunday night. The kids had a blast and after smores were made - left us grownups alone with the fire and some cocktails and we stayed up way too late and had way way too much fun.
The next day we were invited across the road for a BBQ and the young romance grew as they spent the whole day together. Corina came over later to our house later in the day and she made Stephen help her clean his room and the living room! They cleaned for two hours and Stephen is forcing Daniel to promise to keep it clean. So she bossed him around and he liked it and did everything she says. And he doesn't get mad when you say that she likes him -- he just shrugs. Awwwwww, young love.
I had a revelation yesterday - girls are bossy and men usually allow themselves to be bossed. I see how bossy I am with my husband, I see how bossy Margaret is with everyone, I see how Corina bossed Stephen and I recall all the comments over the years from my BIL's about how my sisters boss them.
I guess it is the intensity of the bossing and the intention of the bossing that makes you a woman working with your natural inclinations or a b*tch. I think I walk a fine line between the two -- and want to become less of a boss and more of the team.
Now I am off to see how my husband is doing outside -- he is sealing our deck. I want to make sure he doesn't miss any spots. wink wink
