curvaceous_angel

> It is important for men to remember that as women grow older it
>becomes
>
> harder for them to maintain the same quality of housekeeping
they
>did
> when they were younger. When men notice this, they should try
not to
> yell. Let me relate how I handle the situation.
>
> When I quit my job and took early retirement a year ago, it
became
> necessary for Brenda to get a full-time job both for extra
income
>and
> for health insurance benefits that we need. She was a trained
lab
>tech
>
> when we met thirty some years ago and was fortunate to land a
job at
> the
> local medical center as a phlebotomist.
>
> It was shortly after she started working at this job that I
noticed
> that
> she was beginning to show her age. I usually get home from
fishing
>or
>
> hunting about the same time she gets home from work. Although
she
> knows
> how hungry I am, she almost always says that she has to rest
for
>half
> an
> hour or so before she starts supper. I try not to yell at her
when
> this
> happens. Instead, I tell her to take her time. I understand
that she
>
> is not as young as she used to be. I just tell her to wake me
when
>she
>
> finally does get supper on the table.
>
> She used to wash and dry the dishes as soon as we finished
eating.
>It
>
> is now not unusual for them to sit on the table for several
hours
>after
>
> supper. I do what I can by reminding her several times each
evening
> that they aren't cleaning themselves. I know she appreciates
this,
>as
>
> it does seem to help her get them done before she goes to bed.
>
> Our washer and dryer are in the basement. When she was younger,
>Brenda
>
> used to be able to go up and down the stairs all day and not
get
>tired.
>
> Now that she is older she seems to get tired so much more
quickly.
> Sometimes she says she just can't make another trip down those
>steps.
> I
> don't make a big issue of this. As long as she finishes up the
>laundry
>
> the next evening I am willing to overlook it. Not only that,
but
> unless
> I need something ironed to wear to the Monday's lodge meeting
or to
> Wednesday's or Saturday's
> poker club or to Tuesday's or Thursday's bowling or something
like
> that,
> I will tell her to
> wait until the next evening to do the ironing. This gives her a
>little
>
> more time to do some of those odds and ends things like
shampooing
>the
>
> dog, vacuuming, or dusting.
>
> Also, if I have had a really good day fishing, this allows her
to
>gut
> and scale the fish at a more leisurely pace. Brenda is starting
to
> complain a little occasionally. Not often, mind you, but just
enough
> for me to notice. For example, she will say that it is
difficult for
> her to find time to pay the monthly bills during her lunch
hour. In
> spite of her complaining, I
> continue to try to offer encouragement. I tell her to stretch
it out
> over two or even three days. That way she won't have to rush so
>much.
>
> I also remind her that missing lunch completely now and then
>wouldn't
> hurt her any, if you know what I mean.
>
> When doing simple jobs she seems to think she needs more rest
>periods
> than she used to have to take. A couple of weeks ago she said
she
>had
>
> to take a break when she was only half finished mowing the
yard. I
> overlook comments like these because I realize it's just age
>talking.
>
> In fact, I try to not embarrass her when she needs these little
>extra
> rest breaks. I tell her to fix herself a nice, big, cold glass
of
> freshly squeezed lemonade and
> just sit for a while. I tell her that as long as she is making
one
>for
>
> herself, she may as well make one for me and take her break by
the
> hammock so she can talk with me until I fall asleep.
>
> I could go on and on, but I think you know where I'm coming
from. I
> know that I probably look like a saint in the way I support
Brenda
>on a
>
> daily basis. I'm not saying that the ability to show this much
> consideration is easy. Many men will find it difficult. Some
will
>find
>
> it impossible. No one knows better than I do how frustrating
women
>can
>
> become as they get
> older. My purpose in writing this is simply to suggest that you
make
> the effort.
>
> I realize that achieving the exemplary level of showing
>consideration I
>
> have attained is out of reach for the average man. However
guys,
>even
>
> if you just yell at your wife a little less often because of
this
> article, I will consider that writing it was worthwhile.

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