Maybe it is a woman's idea

Maybe it doesn't bother men how their house or yard looks. ANd it is just a woman's thing. Maybe men don't mind if the grass is knee high and weeds overtaking the gardens. Maybe they don't mind showering in a skum filled, mold filled tub. Maybe they don't mind if the trash overflows every where. Maybe they don't mind that tires that can't be use just sit in the garage. No matter how many tires.. One or ten tires. Maybe all this "clean stuff" is a woman's thing

Really?

I dunno.. lol Was just thinking that maybe it is a man thing to be a man. You know, all gruff and rough. That it might feel too "feminine" to have things too clean..Maybe not a manly thing? You know all that gas explosions and spitting on the ground stuff. Scratching areas and readjusting themselves in public> .. I dunno.... Was just thinking.. I honestly don't know... was just wondering tho...

Actually all that stuff drives my Dad crazy, and the rest of my family is like

No one in my family really cleans...but nothing ever gets so bad that there's something growing.

I think my dad is the only one who care that the yard is dirt, and for clean being a "womens" thing, you've never met my grandmother hahahaha...

i can understand how you feel i have asked myself that same question but than realized the only reason i am sayign those things is my experience from living with my partner....since growing up in a very strict cleaning ocd parent we all went military style cleaning crazy....and have always surrounded myself with such people...than i meet my partner later in life who doesn't seem to care...but i finally sat him down and he does care...he just doesn't center his world around making sure everything is perfect like i do...his ptiorities are a little different than mine.....and that's ok...i have learned to live with it as i'm sure he has learned to deal with my neurotic-ness

and with more proding realized hiw mom never took the time to teach him how to cook, nor clean, not did she make him do his laundry......so he is learning those things now
i as well know a lot of women who can't do a thing and the men do everything....at least oone person in the relationship can do something would hate to be where both don't know how to do anything...what a mess

Me thinks I be a hanging up the cleaning rags..... Gues some go to the extreme on both sides as being clean or not being cleaning. Middle ground would be nice..Thinks I waited too long in life to hang up the cleaning rags. Surely a little mold, tall grass, dust bunnies won't hurt anyone....do believe the "cleaning lady" retired. About time, I say.. smile

Thanks racee, Umbra Sepraph and Don't touch me...Where is it written that "clean" makes one happy..

although i do see a p-doc and i do on occasions more oftenthan not dedicate my hour session to being upset that i'm the only one cleaning lol but what does help is finding the money to set aside gettign a housekeeper to come once a month to deep clean stuff...so that way i don't feel like i am the only one. it does help your sanity

oooh a housekeeper is a great idea... Thinks all we all need a house keeper one time or another. .. Hey, thinks there are much more "happier" things in life than to worry if the floor, dishes or anything is clean....... Women need to go on strike.. smile.... Housekeeper is the answer for sure..

Lol, I agree. My Dad is cleaning constantly!! He likes to brag about how clean the house is, how he made it clean, how he's proud of the place. While my room is a complete mess.. My Dad tells me to clean it every day, with the excuse "you're a girl, you're supposed to be neat and tidy! "

Is cool your dad does the cleaning.. That comment, you're a girl you are supposed to be neat and tidy, is a thumbs down

So it looks like some "guys" like their house clean and tidy...

It sure dont bother men.If we dont get on them about cleaning up things would not be clean.If men could live outside I think they would uggh that make me mad when they dont care about how the yard and how look all they care about sports

There are SO many different variations on this riff it's REALLY funny. When I was a kid my parents went out a LOT in the evening. They'd come back at 12 or 1 and for whatever reason, PMS or alcohol, mom would be on the rag. If there was ONE SPOON out of place in the kitchen, we would (all four of us - the eldest 10 years old) be bounced out of bed, called to the kitchen and forced to do a late night cleaning until she was satisfied.

Then I finally wound up having an apartment of my own. And I learned, first, the delights of watching the mold cultures grow and turn color in the pots I left on the stove. (The colors were impressively bright!) As well of course as the joy of piling all dirty clothes in one corner until the pillar of clothes collapsed onto the bed.

And then all this pailed. I realized I was a good middle-class guy who underneath it all really, really appreciated and enjoyed cleanliness and order. And I washed the pots. And I did the laundry regularly. And I polished the wood and dusted the shelves and vacuumed the rugs and cleaned underneath the fridge. And so I remain until today, when it's my WIFE who leaves the mess, the unwashed laundry, the filthy kitchen floor. Why? Because she's rejecting traditional female roles! Aren't we over that yet?

They were living in caves and moving, rather than cleaning up, when the garbage/bone pile got too large?

I think it's individuals and upbring. I was quite pleased because my husband was raised doing the dishes so doesn't mind now so we have a fine division of labor with me cooking and he cleaning up.

I will never forget when my husband spilled some milk on the living room carpet and spent 15 minutes working on cleaning it up well when I would have taken about 30 seconds and 1 paper towel's-worth of time

I must be manly because I don't mind being dirty, and an unkempt house doesn't bother me.

The female neighbor complains during summer when the shared lawn isn't up to her standards. Here there are ordinances that state certain measures must be taken for the upkeep of property which are enforced by both sexes. No word on who first put them into law though.

Gosh Ygrec... I am sorry. Thinks your mum was a bit to the extreme. I would never do that to anyone. When milk was spilled, I always made sure not to make a fuss. And would always say accidents happen... I think some folks go to the extreme and I am not like that. Is when the extreme messes are just walked over is when I complain. I don't go nuts either when I complain..

When AJ was younger he drug in dirt, muddy footprints, you name it, and I never complained. Is just when the coffee cups are used for ash trays and when the dust bunnies are so many they start taking over I get a tad antsy..Or when the driveway is filled with garbage bags and it is a short driveway at that and nobody grabs the trash and drop it at the end of the driveway for the pickup....

As for the laundry, I do huff inside when AJ washes his jeans and socks with his white clothes which turns all his nice white socks and t-shirts an awful gray. I figure if he wants to wear gray socks and t-shirts is his choice.. At least he washes his clothes...

Just wondering how old you were when you decided cleanliness was cool

LOL on da caveman era..

Soul Quake.... Gosh are you my neighbor.. grins.. Thinks the neighbor mowed their grass once last summer...lol I actually for whatever reason I don't know, but I like mowing the lawn. Something about a nice, fresh cut lawn feels good..

Kikki.. thinks you are right.. if "some" men could live outside they would.. lol..... I do know is hard living with them sometimes, but is nice having them a round..

yw lol

((((radio))) I, too, find the thread a bit of light humor (for me, sorry.)

I'm sorry you are the only one cleaning the home... but I know many men who don't like a dirty or cluttered place.

As for hiring someone to do the deep cleaning once a month, well good wishes on that...most don't do that stuff either! (Even though you're paying them!) You might consider hiring a teen girl (or guy--I know a few boy scouts who work hard, even inside the home but surely outside.)

Now, if I follow your thought... then it's a guy thing to get the car repaired, the roof fixed, the sporting equipment in shape, to buy the right tools (so a lady can clean her home?) and keep the mower running and hmm what else? etc?

I fail miserably in keeping to my role then I have to do everything (unless it's too physically demanding, then I do have an assistant )

Sorry, I really don't know except it sounds like couples counseling is needed. You too need to get away for a date each week, and not discuss the issues but each other...once you fall back in love, you'll do what the other needs you to do and feel good about it.

(I am sorry that you've fallen into the role of homemaker "only" ? It's never too late to reestablish chores in the home.)

You know i posted earlier but i thought of another thing...when i got my house, i told my partner he can have a room that's all his. he can do what he wants full reign!!!

because i am such a control freak over how the house is...even though i am laxed over the years...(u have to compromise)...but i tell him if you want to make a mess do it in there. i do the same with my room.

i grew up in a single parent home and she made us all able to be able to anything...and i actually prefer to do all repairs and things men are "supposed" to do...i think it's not so much of a gender thing...us women just like to "complain" talk about it more...of course women who don't do anything don't complain at all...but men as a rule generally don't complain to others.

i could be tottaly wrong about all this but these are just findings from my own viewpoint....although he did cut down the willow tree in the back today...(thank you) only took a year of "reminding" hehe

About 12 years ago my husband and father (supervising because he was physically unable to participate) trimmed all of the dead branches off of the dozens of trees in the yard.

TWO years after that I was complaining to my husband that WE had to make time to bring the branches to the compost pile. I had reached my limit. A co-worker of ours overheard and was teasing me “give the guy a break, sheesh.”

SIX years later (total of 8 years) my daughter started working there as summer help. That co-worker asked “hey did your parents ever get those branches out of the yard?” No.

Last summer THREE years after that (11 years total) a tornado hit and knocked a tree on our house. Because there was so much damage the village decided to have a pick up for branches and debris from the storm. All you had to do was put them on the side of the road and they would cart them away. NOW he decides to take it all to the community compost pile.

Silver lining: daughter was able to tell my former co-worker that the branches were FINALLY out of the yard. YEA! So just give it a “little” time.

Could be.. im one clean freak.. i can't see things lying around when im at home..
My brother is a total opposite.. u should see his room......
As for my father loves to keep the house clean.. i mean order to keep it clean.. haha....

it's like the new cat kept scratching at the couch...it's his cat i am not taking care of it (meaing buying eveything for it like i usually do to help him out) so for 3 weeks cat kept scratching..he didn't care because IT WASN'T HIS COUCH. and i freak out because i'm one of those people where if i see one thread out of place or a spot i go nuts.
so after a month of getting on to him he needs to do something he finally goes to the store to but some stuff you put on the couch to deter the cat from scratching and when he got he he said to me...
SEE i bought something now! i said yeah i had to nag you to get it! so of course you got it...if i would have said nothing you would have doen nothing...and mind you i am not a nagger but when it comes to things being ruined i get a little crazy

it's like if i really want to get the house cleaned we have to get in a big fight and i leave than hours later i know the house will be cleaned....but we hardly ever fight, and i don't like starting arguments

...this is fun!! better than wasting my hour telling my therapist!
thanks radio flyer for starting the thread!!