Couch Potato

Cori writes:


My boyfriend likes to eat while he watches TV. He always has a bag of chips or a sandwich or something. He gets salt and grease and pizza sauce and everything else all over the remote control. It grosses me out to touch it. I keep a box of tissues on the side-table so that I can use those to punch the buttons, but that is annoying. How do I get him to stop?

Ewwww. I don't think I could date someone who was too much of a slob to wipe his hands off before touching the remote. If that much gunk is getting on the remote, think of what's lurking between your couch cushions. I'd put some serious consideration into getting a second TV for the kitchen, or else a new boyfriend.

I assume you've already tried asking him nicely to use a napkin? If he refuses to change his ways, you may have a larger problem on your hands. Sloppyness at that level usually isn't limited to the living room, and I honestly don't know that I could date someone who wouldn't clean up after himself.

It's time to set some serious boundaries, such as no food outside the kitchen. However, be warned that if you're not willing to leave when things don't improve, you don't have a lot of bargaining room. Decide just how much you're willing to live with, and act accordingly.

Where's Snow White When You Need Her?

Doc writes:

I am so stressed due to work and the house being a mess all the time and my hubby just keeps telling me to relax because it's not hard to keep a clean house. Also, he doesn't help a lot because he goes to school at night after work but it's a voluntary class he takes by choice for a hobby he has, he wants to learn better creative writing. So he tells me I need to do more but I also work and have to travel for work several days out of the week. HELP!!!

Two words: Chore. Chart.

You two obviously have different personalities, and what bothers you doesn't necessarily bother him. But there are chores that need to be done regardless, and it sounds like you're both very busy. I think a chore chart is the perfect solution.

Write down all the chores that need to be done on a weekly basis. Take a look at your and your husband's schedules and preferences and assign each chore a day of the week to be done, and a person to do it. Daily chores should be assigned by whoever's home that day to do them. Write all this on a calendar, tack it to the fridge or your home message-board, et voila! You have an easy-to-follow schedule, and every chore is completed on time.

You can also look into home cleaning and organization techniques, a la The FlyLady. Just Google "organization" or type "cleaning" into Amazon.com, and I'm sure you'll find a plethora of helpful books and systems.

Good luck!