Pick Up Your Socks!!!

Nag! Nag! Nag! “Pick up your socks and put them in the hamper or at least tuck them inside your shoes!!” Blah! Blah! Blah!

Responsibility… a skill you can teach… children! That’s when this kind of teaching should have started. It’s amazing to me the number women who complain that they constantly have to pick up after their husband. Messiness, of course, is a classic source of friction for many couples. Did indulgent mothers create this behavior?

Most women tell me, “It’s much easier just to do it myself.“

Some men – not all of them – have no idea how the laundry gets done. God knows, you can’t beat them into submission. Next time, ask him to fold the clothes, so he realizes that these things don’t just happen. Women shouldn’t have to explain that his socks need to be in the hamper in order for them to get to the washer and dryer so that they would get clean and he could wear them again.

Trying to get your husband (or boyfriend) to pick up his socks (or anything else) by nagging and complaining repels him and creates resentment toward you. Some say, “Just ask him nicely.” But, c’mon, you know you’ve tried it and it didn’t work.

Guys: This is a very bad habit! It’s bad enough that she has to deal with the the “missing sock fairy;” those socks that seem to disappear into another dimension. There are some things that women should simply not try to get men to do – pick up their socks.

“When you’re married to the President of the United States, you don’t worry too much about him leaving his wet towels on the floor. But in Dallas, things are different. Memo to the ex-president, turmoil in East Timor is no longer an excuse not to pick up your socks.” ~ Laura Bush, Former First Lady

I was quoted in Cosmopolitan Magazine several years ago as saying, “Foreplay begins with putting the toilet seat down without being asked!” It seems that household issues are nearly always at the top of the list of concerns.

WHERE is it written that the women should always do the housework?

Nowhere, that’s where!

No husband has ever been shot while doing the dishes, taking out the trash, running the vacuum sweeper or putting his dirty sock in the hamper! Women notice dust and fingerprints. Men notice crabgrass and yellow spots on the lawn. It’s just one of those weird genetic differences between the sexes. Dudes are so typical, right?

“A woman’s resentment comes not simply from picking up socks or making coffee but from the feeling that the man is not pulling his weight, generally, in the domestic department.” ~ Jan Etherington

Some tips from How To Clean Stuff.net: You may have to threaten. “If you can’t help out around here, I’m going to take the TV remote control away! We both know you’ll never stand up to turn the channel!” Or… If the dishes are piled up and he’s giving you the “Babe, do you wanna?” look, you sigh and say, “I just hope I’ll have the energy to rock your world after I wash all of these dishes.” He’ll offer to rinse.

Gals: When he does things around the house, like pick up his socks, show him that you appreciate it!! Show your gratitude for the little things he does. Who doesn’t love compliments?

Guys: Relationships are a lot easier when your partner is happy. So… pick up your damn socks!!

BONUS Articles:
13 Ways to Get Dad to Help Out More Around the House

Hey, Guys and Gals… What About Housework? Are You Sharing

For Men Only – More Housework… More Intimacy!

– Larry James. This idea is adapted from Larry’s books, “How to Really Love the One You’re With: Affirmative Guidelines for a Healthy Love Relationship,” “LoveNotes for Lovers: Words That Make Music for Two Hearts Dancing” and “Red Hot LoveNotes for Lovers.” Larry James is a professional speaker, author, relationship coach and an award winning nondenominational Wedding Officiant. He performs the most “Romantic” wedding ceremony you will find anywhere. Something NEW about relationships is posted every 4th day on this Relationships BLOG.