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[–]RuleZeroDADMRP APPROVED48 points49 points50 points 9 years ago (25 children) | Copy Link
I'm only going to post this once, because I believe this to be the biggest key to gaining any foothold in a marriage with children:
Don't just handle it, get ahead of it.
Most married men constantly find themselves in a reactive position when it comes to anything household and kid related. You currently feel controlled and emasculated by the situation, because you do not have the schedule, tasks, priorities and key information pertaining to your household on lock. Know everything your wife knows, and stay up to date. Can't do it because your job is Haaaard and time consuming? Fuck you, you're lazy.
You fucking know the morning routine during the school week. Get off your ass and get ahead of it the night before if possible. Pre-make lunches, check homework, meet with teachers, etc... Be proactive. Vacuum the house to your standards when you feel disgusted with the appearance of your things. Do the dishes because the house is beginning to stink, not because "mommy makes me clean, whaaaa." If you are truly blind to the fact that you live in filth, get your T checked and seek help for depression.
Yours is the man-child's lament. Be a fucking proactive father and lead from the front, as opposed to being the oldest little boy in the house. Your wife is repulsed that her oldest child wants to fuck her, and I don't blame her.
[–][deleted] 6 points7 points8 points 9 years ago (2 children) | Copy Link
I love it. Just like the standard, 'live like you were single'
In this case, live like a single dad. the onus is on wifey to show that she has a place at the table
[–]sh0ckley1 point2 points3 points 9 years ago* (0 children) | Copy Link
'live like you were single'
Disclaimer: I don't have kids
That said, I never saw it stated as cleanly as this.
When I was ready, I heard around here to "take ownership of household shit" and be the captain, so I did, but first I had to kill my covert contracts surrounding groceries and cooking etc. Then started to cook myself - high quality meals on a schedule. I have a bunch of solid recipes that taste better than most restaurants.
Now: 1.) I have a more awesome life than ever before 2.) She benefits from it 3.) See point #1 and DGAF
Now she asks me if she can please do the dishes? Absolutely autonomy is probably a fantasy but I am close. She mysteriously started cleaning more often and doing my laundry. Folded and put away.
If I had kids it would a much more advanced version of the same thing. Planning. Execution.
Did we have a "discussion" and make an equally shared chores list in counseling? No. Fuck that.
[–]Chump_No_MoreHard Core Nuclear Navy Red1 point2 points3 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
I love it. Just like the standard, 'live like you were single' In this case, live like a single dad. the onus is on wifey to show that she has a place at the table
Exactly.
It's a beautiful thing when your mate equally lives by this credo.
My wife and I playfully fuss and compete over who does the chores first, constantly one-upping the other.
It's a liberating (and stress-free) dynamic when your mate is also a fully functional adult... which is built solely on the foundation of being a competent captain.
I can't repeat this enough... if your wife is lazy and/or misbehaving, it's from the emotional dissonance of your incompetence and inability to set boundaries and expectations.
No matter how you slice it, it's all on you... what you do and what you allow.
[–][deleted] 2 points3 points4 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
Fuck you, you're lazy.
OP, let this sink all the way in.
[–]bourbonhipster2 points3 points4 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
Nothing sexier to a woman than being the only one scrubbing the toilet her husband shits in everyday, yea? Scrub your own fucking toilet because it's your shit. Like how is this not obvious?
[–][deleted] 1 point2 points3 points 9 years ago (15 children) | Copy Link
the man-child's lament
Lol...I'm feeling true inspiration coming on right now. A sonnet. With some reworking of CXI might do it
Pity me then dear friend...
[–][deleted] 0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (11 children) | Copy Link
Love the flair BTW. I would have gone with hillbilly hurricane, due to the real estate and the love of moonshine, but this one works too
[–][deleted] 0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (10 children) | Copy Link
Lol. I thought you were the one who gave it to me? It just appeared one day unexpectedly and unexplained. Must have been bogey then. I love it because it's really the antithesis of me in just about every way. (Except the moonshine part.)
[–][deleted] 0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (9 children) | Copy Link
Faggy french bookworm doesn't have a good ring to it though.
[–][deleted] 0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (8 children) | Copy Link
Lol, I'll take that from you as of course it takes one to know one
[–][deleted] 0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (7 children) | Copy Link
Shh. I've worked my whole life to hide my nerd.
[–]Chump_No_MoreHard Core Nuclear Navy Red0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (6 children) | Copy Link
you've done a pretty shitty job then, Bro.
[–][deleted] 0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (5 children) | Copy Link
IRL... I don't quote archimedes and shit IRL.
This isn't me, this is a personality, like The hulkster, only with more hair
[–][deleted] 0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (4 children) | Copy Link
Did you just really reference hulk hogan?
[–]RuleZeroDADMRP APPROVED0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (2 children) | Copy Link
A rework of the "actors lament" 111 could fit. Are you thinking of 116 though? It's more famously studied.
[–][deleted] 0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (1 child) | Copy Link
Nope. Actor's lament is the very one I mean.
[–]RuleZeroDADMRP APPROVED1 point2 points3 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
Shouldn't have doubted you, since we're the same person and all.
[–]ParadoxThatDrivesUsMRP APPROVED0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
Yes. I adopted a rule early on that has served me well. If (a) I'm pretty sure wife is going to ask me to do something, and (b) I'm pretty sure I'm going to say yes if she asks, then I just do it.
[–]that_italia_guy0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
There will always be be something. Even if he got everything in check there will always be something a woman will come up to say. I say he should do things he's got to do as if she wasn't there.
[–]Eatin_fried_Pussy0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
Damn that's good advice.
[–]maxofreddit0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
This changed my fucking life.
And as a direct result, more fucking.
[–][deleted] 11 points12 points13 points 9 years ago (2 children) | Copy Link
I'd need an example as I don't fully grasp the situation through your post.
But there are 2 things that stand out:
1 People act in accordance with the standard you tolerate. You let her act this way so of course she acts this way. You get what you deserve, she's a mirror of you so if she is acting this way it's because that is where you've led her.
2 You seem to resent her calling you out on shit you know you have to do. Why does she have to play Mommy to you? If she needs help and you know shit has to get done, why not do it without the reminder?
My wife doesn't tell me to cut the grass or take the trash out, I do it because those are the jobs I do. I don't tell her to do dishes or laundry, she does it as needed. Things work best when people fill their role and everyone does their job.
[–]spexerMRP APPROVED1 point2 points3 points 9 years ago (1 child) | Copy Link
you are asking the key question here. Whether she is asking with respect or not, is the OP actually pulling his weight?
[–][deleted] 0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
I hate posts that leave that key info out.
Too much ego clouds our vision as we can't see who is really at fault and needs to adjust behavior.
[–][deleted] 8 points9 points10 points 9 years ago (4 children) | Copy Link
The idea is to be able to be a single dad. Think about that.
Edit: a well functioning and effective single dad.
[–]drty_prMRP APPROVED1 point2 points3 points 9 years ago (3 children) | Copy Link
Not a deadbeat every second weekend dad. Those aren't dads.
[–][deleted] 1 point2 points3 points 9 years ago (2 children) | Copy Link
second weekend dad.
Depends what happened in the courtroom ya dig?
[–]drty_prMRP APPROVED1 point2 points3 points 9 years ago (1 child) | Copy Link
In my experiences it's because the guys are fuckin lazy. I'd fight like my life was on the line til the end.
But yah, courts can suck pretty badly.
[–][deleted] 1 point2 points3 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
Look up The Fathers Rights Movement on Facebook and then tell me how many lazy guys are there. Because of sexist attitudes (guys are lazy, they didn't carry the kid for 9 months, their girlfriends will be taking care of the kids.....) fathers get the short end of the stick in court. This has been changing, but in many USA states it's stil a costly fight. I'm glad you say you will fight for your kids, but don't slam guys that got fucked over by the family court/divorce lawyer complex.
[–]Chinchilla_the_HunMarried5 points6 points7 points 9 years ago (1 child) | Copy Link
(why wasn't this in /r/askMRP??)
I'm gonna echo what /u/RuleZeroDAD said and stress being proactive/leading by example. The most trusted leaders are those who are able - or at least willing - to do what their followers are asked to do. The catch is not doing everything for them to the point of them being useless.
Also, you're probably right about her "do it for the kids" as being code for "I want you to do your work AND some of my work." Solution? Look at it from a business management perspective.
Personal example: I've got 4 kids 6yo and under, which means I've had a lot of time managing small kids while there's a newborn in the house. Whenever she was in a nursing period, Mrs. the-Hun would be pretty wiped out in the morning after getting up multiple times throughout the night and I'd have to pick up slack. I found it an added hassle dealing with tiny, attention-demanding, morning-people while I'm trying to get myself out the door for work, so I started making oatmeal or eggs the night before so I could just reheat and get them eating as I take care of my own shit. Guess who has since took up that same practice and does it now without my even reminding her?
Lastly, don't give into her frame of feels. By all means, help her manage her mental and physical well-being, but don't give even half a shit if she's going on about how stressed she is. Let her vent as much as you're willing to tolerate and then move on with life...if you're leading properly, she'll move on too.
[–]CasperTFG_8083 points4 points5 points 9 years ago (1 child) | Copy Link
My wife does the same thing. What I have learned is not to look at her behaviour, I look at my own and deal with it.
[–]Chinchilla_the_HunMarried0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
This is actually a good, succinct list of guidelines.
[–]spexerMRP APPROVED2 points3 points4 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
Start to laugh and say
"Funny how you are trying to tell me what to do."
You teach her how to treat you, so this is on you.
Dont get mad. Laugh at it. belittle it.
Ass far as justifications on why you should be doing more to make the house run.... well, what ARE you doing with your time?
If you are busy making life awesome, working out, doing that project you always wanted to do restoring the engine from the old mustang, then do you thing and say no.
If you are working on projects you feel take priority for the family, like fixing the plumbing in the upstairs bathroom. Then say no.
If you are watching TV or playing video games... get off your ass.
Why is she bossing you around in the first place? That is a loss of frame in itself, despite tossing in "for the kids or family" afterwards.
Don't you have stuff to do around the house or at least a division of chores?
[–]BobbyPeruMRP Approved1 point2 points3 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
Here's what I do: I get the whole house cleaned in 1 day. I don't announce when. I don't even say anything after it's done. Matter of fact, I don't even always acknowledge it when she says thank you. Clean and do chore work because you want to and on your own time.
[–]UEMcGillMarried- MRP MODERATOR1 point2 points3 points 9 years ago (1 child) | Copy Link
OP which is it? Are you a faggot because you can't say no to your woman? Or are you a faggot because shit aint getting done in your house?
As a leader you should be giving the tools and resources to your wife she needs. As a man you have the right to refuse shit and not give a fuck about her feelings on it.
This aint complicated.
Sounds like a little of both.
OP every failure you describe is your own. With hard work, you might be able to understand this and accept it. Until then, please fuck off.
[–]thisisme00070 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
How can I maintain my own frame when she shifts her bossiness around to always feel or appear in control of me?
What the fuck does this even mean? It is not possible for someone to run around with their own frame and ensnare you in it. Leaving your frame is an active choice that you make.
[–]drty_prMRP APPROVED0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
This week I woke up to work out early. As i waited for my water to boil for my coffee, i packed the kids lunches that were already half made in the fridge from the day before. I then preceeded to do my routine. She gets up and comes down stairs.
She is then cheery the rest of the morning. I should also note that I made lunches the 3 days prior this week. Not as a covert contract to fuck her, but because I hate listening to her bullshit as I work out.
This is exactly how easy it is. Also everything u/RuleZeroDAD said to a tee.
[–]screechhaterMRP APPROVED0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
You suck and your wife is calling you out on it man child........ "Do it for the kids" AKA grow the fuck up, asshole
As the husband I always have cash in hand and hidden all over the house- as the best me- house is spotless. I have all of the answers to her questions before them, like "Yes, I have 1 mil in Keyman Insurance @ the business and 1 million insurance coverage for you and mortgage insurance to pay it off" "Yes, the doctor shoved his finger up my ass last exam and my prostrate is good"
Get so far fucking out ahead that she cannot deny you are the prize. Do you lift ?
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[–]RuleZeroDADMRP APPROVED48 points49 points50 points (25 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 6 points7 points8 points (2 children) | Copy Link
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