Invitation?

Can you imagine if you did it back?....."Come and see how well I've made the bed.......Look how clean the washing is.. etc.

They like to seek approval for things we do automatically don't they?

Invite him to admire the bathroom next time you bleach/scrub/wipe/tidy it. Point out the absence of skid marks in the pan, the hair free plug holes and the mirror free of toothpaste specks. Stand back and wait for applause.

Emptying the dishwasher is apparently a mentionable activity if its carried out by the man of the house..

Mine does the dishwasher and cleans his own toilet (he uses the shower room one, I use our bathroom) but I can relate to the shed tale and it lasts for months, as in 'someone's made a mess of my tidy space'

And, should he cook, we never have the correct implements and the resulting meals are always 'one of my specials!!'

Oh how all this is so familiar! I do so love GNetters as I now realise my life is quite normal! Do you think it's a gene on their Y chromosome or it is that their besotted mothers over-praised them?

Nature or nurture?

I get "I've washed up for you" or "I've cleaned the kitchen floor for you"! FOR ME???

How about "I got your washing in". GRR!

My DH's shed workshop is his haven. He often expects me to admire how he's arranged things, swept the floor, put up a shelf. I don't mind I love his shed. It's where he repairs the hoover, hedge trimmer, ancient lawnmower, modifies chicken coops and most of all, KEEPS OUT FROM UNDER MY FEET

Yes, it was peaceful yesterday afternoon when he was gainfully occupied I must admit merlot. Now he's looking for something to do and I sense a project coming on...he's been eyeing up the old water feature tonight. Frogs watch out!

My grandpa practically lived in his shed. As children we would lock him in and push bits of bread through a hole in the door so he wouldn't starve! He always went along with the game. My DH was totally on the same wavelength and taught Grandpa to weld at the ripe old age of 86. When Grandpa died he left all his tools to DH. They're still with us and some are still in use.

That's a lovely story, merlot!

Yes it is.loverly.

This has reminded me about my grandfather's shed which he let me tidy for him.

He worked for LMS and the shed door had a sign saying 'Please do not use while the train us standing at the station'. I'd love to know how he got that home with no one spotting it!

If we go back to prehistoric times (before 1960), men brought the food and the means for shelter and warmth, and the women looked after and processed it all.

There was a mutual dependence.

Since 1960 or thereabouts the woman has become dominant and the man depends on her bringing most of his wellbeing. Hence approval seeking every few minutes.