Last weekend, R. and I were cleaning. You know that kind of cleaning where you actually LIFT stuff and clean UNDER it? Yep, that’s was last weekend for us. Anyway, I was busy in another room while my husband was cleaning the living room. I should have known something was amiss when he didn’t come in to ask questions. But I just wrote it off as a cleaning day miracle.

Once I finished in the bedroom I walked out and saw the most horrible sight EVER. EVER!!! My living room was….REARRANGED! Since I cannot hide my emotions at all (and my face was contorted in a most unattractive fashion) my husband knew right away it didn’t please me.

“You don’t like it.”

“Um….no.”

“Ooh come on, we never rearrange.”

“There’s a reason!” (Gesturing wildly about the room)

“Fine…I’ll put it back.” (Giant puppy dog eyes)

At this point, I realize it’s unfair of me to dictate the entire design of the room. He’s not asking to put beer posters or autographed baseballs in there. He’s just asking to move a loveseat. It doesn’t look terrible. I need to let it go. Give it some time. Let the aesthetics of it all sink in.

Fast forward about 3 hours. Still not working for me. I I know I keep looking at the void by the couch with longing and despair.

“You still don’t like it.”

“It’s causing me great strife.” (Yes, I know - a little over the top.)

*Sigh*

He really likes that corner reading nook he created. Actually I like the reading nook he created too, but I couldn’t get over the gaping hole. Now I had to remove emotions and think about the issue. We both like the reading nook. I don’t like the whole. There is a solution that would make us both happy. Keep the reading nook - get something for the hole! I know this seems so simple, but how many couple fights and bicker over stupid issues like this all the time. So I suggest -

“You know I’ve wanted a leather chair for a while. Can we go look?”

“Hey! That’s a good idea.”

UM??? Does it get any better? He’s happy and I get to look at furniture! Score one for the Marrieds!

Compromise, compromise, comprise. It’s one of the cornerstones of marriage. Lots of people seems to think that compromise is losing. Couple feel like compromise is a sign of defeat. Doing something that makes your spouse happy once in a while shouldn’t make you feel like a loser! It should do the opposite. Now, if you’re the one giving and giving and never getting in return….then there are some balance issues! This particular compromise ended in happiness (and leathery chair goodness) for both of us.

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