Things My Spouse Does to Accommodate Me

I'm out just about every Friday night, many Saturday afternoons, and some weekday evenings from late August through November officiating high school football. Last fall, I actually passed on going to a family member's wedding reception (did go to the Friday afternoon wedding) to work a Friday evening game which was a few miles from the church. The reception was about an hour the opposite way.

Especially if that means going to the movie theatre. Last movie we went to as a family was, I think, the last Avengers movie.

I don't like arguments. Discussions, sure. But yelling and screaming trigger me. She's said she used to try to provoke me into arguments, but I shut down when she does. Comes from effects from parental arguments in my childhood, and the fear of not being able to control the anger when it does come out.

I'm generally softer about things with our son. He's pretty well behaved but when he crosses the line, I let it go far sooner than she does. I'm also the one to go to when he wants something. Still has to earn it, but I don't put out "absolute no's."

I have a few, and they tend to change - try new ones, drop others - almost always involving spending money which might be better used elsewhere.

When I pour leftover coffee, after a while it stains the sink. She cleans the sink weekly or so (fills it up half way with hot water and Oxyclean) to clean it.

I've got a wide sarcastic streak, and she's learned to let it pass rather than get angry or get into an argument with me.

To be my office... yes, there's a desk for her, and the kid has a place for some of his stuff (Scout & camping stuff fill the closet) but it is where I work, read, and have my aquarium.

Cutting the grass, trimming trees, etc., don't get done when she thinks they need done. I do it when necessary,

If we're meeting at a restaurant at 1pm for lunch, my siblings and mom will, inevitably, be late.

Like my father before me, I believe that if you're somewhere on time, you're at least five minutes late. So, this one I tolerate, too.