Why is that my spouse complains that he has a list of things he "needs" to do. Specific chores that he does only, those type of things.Things he has been putting off for weeks and weeks. Yet, he is outside washing his car? I do not get it. It actually angers me a lot. I will not say anything to him, as it will just cause an arguement, just about everything else. It is just amazing to me that somebody can whine and moan how he has no time to do anything and has these important things that need to be done, and he is outside washing his car.

By Amecmom on Sunday, November 4, 2007 - 12:55 pm:

Washing the car is an important thing - unless you like a dirty car
All of us put off the things we don't like to do in favor of things that need to be done that we enjoy doing. Just human nature.
At least he's not whining and moaning and then sitting in front of the tv.
Look on the bright side.
Ame

By Cocoabutter on Sunday, November 4, 2007 - 02:19 pm:

Sometimes those items on the list of "100 Things to do Today" get extremely overwhelming, even for guys.

My suggestion would be to jump in and say to him, "Let's to this task TOGETHER!"

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, November 4, 2007 - 06:45 pm:

I suggest it is simply because he'd rather wash the car than do the chores he's been putting off. He wouldn't be putting them off if he wanted to do them. Maybe you and dh need to talk about his "chore list".

And, for a lot of men, washing the car is a "manly" thing to do, the car is his baby, and when he is done and it is all shining he can admire the car and pat himself on the back.

By Bellajoe on Sunday, November 4, 2007 - 07:32 pm:

Perhaps washing his car was on his list to do?

By Luvn29 on Sunday, November 4, 2007 - 08:10 pm:

Did he ever get anything else done today?

I have to say, I find it very irritating when they find things to do that really don't have to be done instead of doing things that really do need to be done!

My husband is bad for that, though I do have to give him TONS of credit because he is wonderful about doing housework and laundry! But when it comes to other things, like a leaky faucet, or even blown lightbulbs, it takes an act of Congress to get him to do it! So I do feel your pain!!!

By Wandilu on Sunday, November 4, 2007 - 08:22 pm:

If his list of things to do involve doing things around the house,you might try what I do. When something around here needs doing, that usually falls under the DH category, I will just start doing it and almost everytime he will jump right in and say "let me do that", and he will do it himself or we will do it together. Hope this helps

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, November 4, 2007 - 09:37 pm:

Yeah, my hubby is pretty proud of his cars. Of course, he mentioned that he should wash one of them, and it never did happen. Tomorrow it gets cold and windy, so I think him doing it himself, at home, really isn't going to happen.

By Nicki on Monday, November 5, 2007 - 01:01 am:

My dh often says his work around our house never ends. He's right, he knows how to fix just about anything, and this house keeps him busy. I like to take care of the yard and have been frustrated because the lawn mower is not working and needs dh's help. He's been putting if off. So yesterday I made him a deal, lol. If he could find time to fix the lawn mower, I would do one of the things on his to do list. Crazy me picked the garage. It worked, though. He has a semi-clean garage and I was able to mow the lawn today. I know my dh gets overwhelmed with his many jobs around here and I think it helps if we tackle some things together.

I can empathize with you, though. My dh often says he has a "million" things to do. I'm thinking to myself, "me too".

By Anonymous on Monday, November 5, 2007 - 02:30 pm:

Well on his list he never did mention washing his car. Let's see, I have "tried" to do things as well. I actually do not mind mowing the lawn. Mowing our backyard is very MUCH needed. We have a shed in the back, it is packed full of "Stuff".It is my husbands stuff.Things are in there in certain ways, so it all fits. I will go out there and attempt to get the lawnmower.One of two things happen, first he may see me struggle to get things out of the shed to find the lawnmower, then he gets annoyed and comes out to "help" me. Or two, I have to track him down washing his car, and ask him to get the lawnmower out. He will stop washing his car, and come back to the shed, all the while very annoyed at me. If I make any comments about it needed it to be done weeks ago, he gets even more mad and annoyed. He will get the lawnmower out for me to use, but not without comments. I certainly think mowing the grass is much more important then washing his car. If I get as far as actually mowing the lawn,he normally is watching me to make sure I do it right. He then will go over the parts I did not do right *sigh*.

I can certainly understand wanting to do something fun, then doing something that needs to be done. How I would love to lay on the sofa, sipping on coffee and reading a good book all day. Real life steps in front of those plans. I do make time for a little me time,but never after rattling off lists of "must do" all day.
I just do not get it at times.

No, I would never just jump in and say Let's do this together", as he would never do it for me and my chores. Plus, he never likes the way I or the kids try to help him. He is very anal about things and ends up just criticizing us. So I try to let him do his chores, and I stick to mine.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, November 5, 2007 - 02:37 pm:

See, I just take the time to read the book! LOL! The housework never goes anywhere!