Cynthia W Lett - Thats So Annoying

Husbands make too many messes.

Dirty dishes are left on the counter.

Husbands dont do dishes, period.

In many households, the kitchen is the womans domain. Fortunately there is a trend toward capable men who love to cook and do it well. Now, even children get into chef mode and help out with meals on a regular basis. However, the majority of kitchens still seem to be run by the woman of the house, giving rise to a plethora of complaints about what others (primarily husbands) do in the kitchen. The top annoying behaviors revolve around cleanliness, food, and simple presence in the kitchen.

My husband drinks out of the milk or juice carton.

Complaint from many annoyed wives

Whenever hygiene is concerned, I suggest that rules of etiquette become part of the rules of the house. Drinking directly from any carton is terribly unsanitary. The Solution: Because you live with him, suggest that no one wants to drink the remaining contents of the carton when his germs have been slobbered all over the flap. If he doesnt amend his bad behavior, perhaps its time for him to buy his own carton of milk. That way, he can do what he wants while you enjoy a germ-free container.

My husband or kid leaves about one half inch of juice in the container and puts it back in fridge so he doesnt have to make more.

Annoyance from a wife and mother

The Solution: A simple way to deal with this gripe is to leave the juice container in the fridge and, when you are asked to make more, tell the culprit that it is now his responsibility because they want more juice. You can choose to be the servant (and continue to be annoyed with this behavior) or you can train your family to serve themselves.

I am gone all day and come home and my husband says he is starving, like he couldnt feed himself?

Barbara in Los Angeles, CA

Heres an idea: Ask him what is for dinner. After all, it has been a tough day for you, too. If you and your significant other have taxing work schedules, and neither of you enjoy cooking, establish a weekly meal plan, alternating who cooks each day of the week. That way, no one feels burdened with all the cooking, and no one has real reason to become annoyed.

What is it About Coffee?

Cleaning up after my husbands coffee mess [is frustrating].

Carol Landry from New Mexico

There is no coffee left because my husband drank it all.

Numerous wives

These complaints stem from laziness, self-absorption, and lack of respect. The Solution: Set guidelines for members of your household when it comes to taking responsibility for their own messes and for thinking of others. Model the behavior you would like others in the house to use. Employ positive reinforcement when your husband or boyfriend remembers to clean up the coffee grinds or brew a fresh pot of joe. If you praise him and let him know how much you appreciate it, hopefully you will see repeated attempts to do the right thingand experience less annoyance on your part.