And the winner is...

Survey says... Let them think they won, you know you're right and that's what matters!

This philosophy will help avoid an argument at the time... just don't let it fester then come back to bite you later! Because you WILL get the big, "YOU AGREED WITH ME!"  My husband and I have been down this road so many times I can't even count, because we both do this. He will tell you that he does not back down, but I pretty sure he just let's me think I won, and vice versa... Because inevitably the subject will come up again and at some point one of us will bring up the fact that we already had this "conversation" and we agreed that blah blah blah... So what's the answer??? You tell me and we'll both know!  Know when it's ok to bring stuff back up, or don't bring it back up at all?  I don't think there is a standard to follow in this scenario.  You really just have to learn to read your partner. What kind of mood are they in? Was is a good day... busy day... stressful day? All of these things factor in to whether or not you are about to have a conversion, heated debate, or screaming match.  Learn to read the signs and you'll be in good shape! Oh and by the way... same rules apply at "bedtime" ;)

Kids, Pets, Evacuations, and Family

I going to jump back in time a little bit tonight. This story took place in 2005, and while some of you may not relate to my experience, just read it for future reference in-case you are ever stranded away from home, maybe it will help you be prepared for what to expect... September 2005 we were under a mandatory evacuation because Hurricane Rita decided that our little section of Texas no longer needed trees. So we packed our most precious possessions, I took the kids and dog and my husband was to follow with his Mom and the cat, who HATES the cat jail (or carrier as most people call it). After about an hour of cat rodeo, she was in! Pick up the carrier, top pops off, cat takes off and that was that. She was on her own...  So were off to Dallas to stay with the in-law's while the hurricane blew in. Moving along... hurricane hits, no utilities at home, not allowed back into town. Fast-forward to 3 weeks of ten people all living under one roof. Kids are ready to kill each other, my husband had to return home to work and help with clean up, and me and my sister-in-law are buried under enough dirty clothes to clothe an entire army! We cooked every meal, because all of us going out to eat was even worse than cooking for everybody, and the kids room looked like it was the one hit by a hurricane. Yes, sanity took a hike and we were living on pure survival mode! Good job Kim - we did it! Thanks for letting us crash.
It was around that time that I really learned how a kind, loving word and a good-night kiss from your husband can really help out... Of course, by that time my husband had already gone home, so what to do? I did what Mom's do, suck it up and take care of business! Since that trip we have evacuated to their house two more times. Once was while they were staining the floors in their house (after applied you can't walk on them for like 2 days by the way...) and once for Hurricane Ike, picture Rita experience all over again only this time add another baby to the mix!
I really have to give it to my husband though... he kept me sane through it all. Just by reminding me that it would all be alright in the end, and making me laugh. Oh, by the way, the cat was fine. When we got home she was all stretched out on the driveway getting some sun. She looked at us like, "Where the hell have you people been?!? I had to catch my own food!"

Just Laughs

It's a busy week this week so I didn't write about anything in particular today. But since this is a "Guide" here's my thoughts... Laugh together everyday, no matter what. It's hard to be mad at each other when you are laughing, and even easier to get over the trivial stuff. I am posting a link of an OLD video that my husband and I always laugh at. It's from a time when there was good, genuine, family humor. If you haven't laughed a little today, have a look!

Key to a happy marriage... happy wife!

Before all you husbands out there start yelling at me, I agree that it is important for the husband to be happy too... but we can make it sooooo much worse for you.  So really if the wife is happy nine times out of ten the husband will be happy too! So here's a really easy way to make us smile... when you are finished eating, put your plate in the sink! Simple little things like that only take a few seconds and can really make a big difference in the sanity of your wife. She will be so impressed by your effort she may even dress up for you the next time you have dinner, which she will happily prepare for you with the peace of mind that when you are done you will put your plate in the sink. (See how that works out for you???) I know most husbands do not mean to make extra work for their wives, they probably do not even realize they are doing it, but if you don't get a handle on it there will come a time when you have the "Pick up that plate" stand off. Ours was several years ago while my husband had a few days off work and he was home all day.  I picked up dishes next to his chair constantly, so I asked him in the sweetest voice I could muster, "Honey, if you are done could you please put your plate in the sink?" To which he responded, "Yes." About three hours later the plate was still there so I asked if he forgot... "I told you I would!" Ok, we just have a different time table, no biggie, he said he will put it up so, he will. The stand-off begins. The plate sat and sat and sat. I cleaned the room around the plate, watching as the food particles hardened into little pebbles that looked like a 4th grade science experiment. About day three of the stand-off he made a comment about how gross it was to have dirty dishes laying around. I was in shock, didn't know what to say... just reminded him it was his plate, he said he would pick it up, and that it would be a cold day in hell before I pick up that plate!  Without a word he picked up the plate, walked into the kitchen, and put it in the trash. So, we both learned something that day... he learned there is not a magic fairy that flies in and cleans up the dishes. I learned that you really don't need an eight piece matching set of dinner plates, seven is plenty!

Begin at the beginning...

Well here it is, my first blog post. I'm sure you are on the edge of your seat! Here's the low down... I need to create a blog for a class I am taking, I started writing funny stuff down a few years ago because I have a TERRIBLE memory and I wanted to be able to remember the funny stuff when I have a bad day.  Several pages in I noticed that most of what I wrote was about my husband. He is a pretty funny guy, which is what gave me the idea for this blog.  So put all that together and here you have it, my blog. We are like most American families, busy with kids, work, baseball practice, homework... not much time for hobbies, other than writing about my crazy family.  We use humor to keep from driving each other crazy, something I thought was pretty common, until I started paying attention to why people get divorced.  WIVES GO CRAZY! So here it is, a daily dose of ways to keep your wife sane. Hope it helps...

Check back soon for some laughs and maybe something you read can help you out!