Hubs and I recently spent a delightful evening having dinner out with friends, and someone commented on yet another 90-minute Hollywood marriage that was on the rocks, and that both parties were currently in court in a headline-making battle over the validity of the pre-nup (apparently it takes eight lawyers and a judge to determine the actual legal definition of “cheating”).
Amidst much wine-induced hilarity over the fact that our four incomes combined wouldn’t get any of us within 100 miles of a pre-nup zip code, the women began to formulate a list of what we would have included if we’d presented a pre-nup to our current spouses before we were married oh-so-many years ago.
Most couples talk freely and endlessly about the big issues, like whether or not to have children, and if so, how many, religious beliefs, city vs. country living, merging finances, how to handle crazy in-laws, ex-spouses and stepchildren, divergent career paths and whose comes first. But these are rarely the things that topple a relationship. If you disagree on too many of the fundamentals, in many cases this isn’t the person you’re going to marry anyway.
It’s the little things that really matter. The day-to-day annoyances that build up over time until someone comes home to find their entire vintage CD collection out in the front yard and the locks changed on the master bedroom door. Experts say that finances and sex problems are the two greatest causes of divorce. I say it’s continuing to leave your dirty laundry on the bathroom floor and drinking the last of the coffee before she’s even out of the shower, after she’s complained about both for years, that ultimately start to piss her off until she threatens to leave your uncooperative and oblivious ass for the UPS guy.
So in the interest of promoting marital harmony, I’ve compiled a list of 25 Things Women Want in the Pre-Nup that will help keep the waters of marital bliss smooth and untroubled for years to come. You’re welcome, guys.
1. Repeatedly leaving the toilet seat up is the male equivalent of the universal, female “Not tonight, dear. I have a headache.” Ain’t nobody getting any tonight.
2. Borrowing my car and returning it with the gas gauge on “E” tells me it’s been too long since we’ve had a good fight.
3. Drinking the last Diet Coke without replacing my stash is exactly the same as me letting your beer fridge run dry.
4. Three hours of trying to get your attention and actually talk to you, while you scream and yell at the TV during the entire course of the Big Game, is not “spending time together.”
5. No, I cannot stay at my hot pre-wedding weight and eat a big dinner with you every night. You’re going to have to choose.
6. Yes, I know you hate the songs on my iPod. That’s why they call it an “I” Pod. Get your own.
7. Beer is not the only liquid that will quench your thirst.
8. Just because you were born with a penis doesn’t mean you automatically know how to fix my car. Take it to the shop, please.
9. Throwing all my delicates into the dryer on High isn’t “helping with the laundry.”
10. There is no official religious sanction in any recognized church that prohibits putting the new toilet paper roll on the dispenser rather than on the bathroom counter. I checked.
11. Blaring surround sound in a tiny living room is not “way cool.” It’s just loud. I don’t need to hear helicopters behind my head.
12. There isn’t a woman alive, in any country on the planet, who thinks “fine” is a synonym for “beautiful.” When you say “You look fine” or “That dress is fine,” I guarantee you that we just heard, “You look boring and plain, but I’m getting impatient, so let’s go.” And the next time you ask “Was it good for you?” we’ll respond, “It was fine.”
13. After two arm whacks and a swift kick in the shins, if you’re still snoring, I’m sleeping in the guest bedroom. Yes, I still love you.
14. No, you cannot wear your neon, tie-dyed t-shirt from college to dinner with my parents. Or at any event we attend together. Ever.
15. I don’t care if we’ve shared a toothbrush from time to time, when you drink milk directly out of the container, it has backwash in it and I can’t drink it. Same for my Diet Cokes. The glasses are in the cabinet on the left side of the fridge.
16. Thong underwear feels like dental floss in your butt crack, and 4″ stilettos are as comfy as ballet toe shoes. These were invented by men. You wear ’em.
17. Yanking the duvet up over the still-wadded sheets and blankets is not “making the bed.”
18. The distance between your hand and the sink is roughly the same as that between your hand and the dishwasher, so all things being equal, please put your dirty dishes in the dishwasher, not the sink.
19. We will never be married long enough for me to find ball-and-chain jokes funny.
20. If I’m wearing it, it’s because I like it. And if I like it, you like it. Yes, even the boyfriend jeans.
21. A two-minute back rub, followed by your hand down my pants and the assumption of sex , is not “giving me a massage.”
22. If I ever ask, “You look fabulous” is the only correct response. And why did I have to ask?
23. Just because I do all the shopping doesn’t mean I do all the spending. The drycleaning I picked up was yours. The $40 moisturizer I bought at Nordstrom was yours. The dozen t-shirts from Target? Yours. You say “we” need to stop spending? You first.
24. There are many great movies with no screaming car chase scenes, automatic weapons on constant firing, alien invasions, or apocalyptic backdrops. We also like comedies, musicals, or even love stories. And spending the entire movie repeatedly asking, “When does anything happen?” or “Do they have to sing everything??” is virtually guaranteed to have us watching movies in different rooms of the house.
25. A sports bar with unlimited “Buckets-O-Wings” and 27 TVs will never be my choice for date night. Or actually, ever. Go. Have fun. I’ll pick the next one. No TVs, but you’ll love the wine list.
And they lived happily ever after.
Wish I had this list eleven years ago. The surround sound in a small living room is spot on. We have a rather fancy sound system for a very small living room. It’s pretty embarrassing when we have company. My husband just sits there and smiles. He loves it.
Printing and laminating for my husband! LOL
Omg this one: 23. Just because I do all the shopping doesn’t mean I do all the spending. The drycleaning I picked up was yours. The $40 moisturizer I bought at Nordstrom was yours. The dozen t-shirts from Target? Yours. You say “we” need to stop spending? You first.
Story of my life. I handle all the shopping and finances while the husband works nights and then I get the, “Wow you spent a lot today…” While I stare at the receipt for HIS motorcycle payment, the pack of HIS t-shirts, the bags of food HE wanted to take to share with the guys at work…Yeah. Don’t get me started.
Oh yes #5 and #10!!!! So funny!
This list is perfect!!! I love it!
This list is so good I am printing it up and “posting” it on the refrigerator door! I love them all! Will you be my lawyer?
Peeing on the floor. You know what I mean. EVERY man I have ever known.
Oh yes! Dishes in the sink! If our dishwasher was located 2 miles away, I would better understand why hubs refuses to use it. Instead, our easy-to-open dishwasher is located just 2 steps to the left of the sink. Still he just won’t put his dirty dishes in it. I don’t get it. Thanks for this great post, Vikki! You nailed it right on the head.
Right on the mark as usual, Vikki! :)
Bingo! Unfortunately, most of us don’t know about these before the marriage, so they don’t go in the pre-nup. Even if we’ve lived with the guy before the wedding bells, some things that seem “cute” for a year, get old quickly after “I do”. (PS: We raised two boys, so, for me, some of these were X3). One of the happiest days of my life was when I no longer had to share a bathroom with 3 males of the species.
Funny! Nice list.
Hysterical list! I can totally relate to #9!
HAHAHAHA…my favorite? 21.
This is brilliant, you have such a funny gorgeous brain.
These are hilarious and I’m totally stealing the beer fridge thing for when hubby doesn’t pick me up k-cups, but gets himself beer…even though he knows I’m out. ;)
Visiting today from Marcia’s and I’m about to be your latest follower too. Thanks for the laugh!
Pre-nup #11 If I let you off the hook for 20 of my family’s events, then you better dang attend the one gig I ask for! Love your list, which I think you read my mind about.
Haha! I loved this! This inspires me… what would I put in my next pre-nup!
Great list. #9 !!!!
I thought this was hilarious…my husband on the other hand could not listen beyond #3! He has the attention span of a gnat…which should be on the list. I would add “did all your teeth grow in” and “how many meds do you have to take to stay focused long enough to get past #3?” I’m just saying! :)
I am subscribing now!
You are wise beyond your years…… :-)
Hysterical.As usual. Like#12.
You’d get on very well with my wife! And only 25 demands? Your reasonableness is remarkable!
These are perfect and so so funny and relatable – esp. this one: . Throwing all my delicates into the dryer on High isn’t “helping with the laundry.”
Haha. Some of these are the exact opposite in our household. I’m more of the dude at times than he is. And, thankfully the man never pees anywhere but in the toilet. I got lucky there.
I’ll take the sports bar date though.I’m a tomboy. I’ll save my wine drinking for home. Beer and wings? Bring it!
OMG! You have it all down on paper now there should be a distinct decline in US divorce rates. Great post.
Darn. I was in the middle of my comment and our Internet went poof. I hate it when that happens! I can relate to these inn varying degrees. Some he has actually managed to coronet. (Must be that I am such a good trainer.) But the funny thing about #1? After 31 years of marriage, it was no longer an issue. He NEVER left that seat up. But recently, we traveled together (he usually goes alone, on business) and the strangest thing happened. I went into the hotel bathroom and found the toilet seat up! I can only figure that the strong urge to leave it up returns when he know he is alone.
This is soooooooooooooooo helpful!!! Thank you!
What a hoot!
Perfect list and hilarious, as always! The only time I’m happy to have a tv in the restaurant is when we have the kids with us.
1000 % absolutely, positively perfect!
And do I ever have a great surprise for you! Stay tuned. ;-)
Hi Vikki, Just tried to reply to your DM but twitter won’t let me DM you unless you follow me. I’m @RuthHarrisBooks.
I blog at http://ruthharrisblog.blogspot.com. Also at http://annerallen.blogspot.com.
Coming soon: HUSBAND TRAINING SCHOOL. ;-) Ruth
You really need to write a book on marriage. Not kidding. These are the make-it-break-it things that most young couples in love don’t foresee. You are so right. It’s not generally the big things, but the day-to-day thoughtlessness that kills love.
Best list ever!!
Also, you should really consider the comment above mine :)
Loved it!!