Advice for retired men

ADVICE FROM PETER - A RETIRED HUSBAND

It is important for men to remember that, as women grow older, it becomes harder for them to maintain the same quality of housekeeping as when they were younger.

Now when you notice this, try not to yell at them. Some women are oversensitive, and there's nothing worse than an oversensitive woman.

My name is Peter and let me relate how I handled the situation with my wife.

When I retired a few years ago, it became necessary for Lesley to get a full-time job, along with her part-time job, both for extra income and for the health benefits that we needed.

However shortly after she started working, I noticed she was beginning to show her age. I couldn’t help but notice as I usually get home from the golf club about the same time she gets home from work.

Although she knows how hungry I am, she almost always says she has to rest for half an hour or so before she starts dinner. Now I don't yell at her. Instead, I tell her to take her time and just wake me when she gets dinner on the table. As I generally have lunch in the Men's Grill at the club, eating out, for us, is not reasonable and I'm ready for some home-cooked food when I hit that door.

After we had eaten she used to do the dishes as soon as we finished but now it's not unusual for them to sit on the table for several hours after dinner. I do what I can by diplomatically reminding her several times each evening that they won't clean themselves.

I know she really appreciates this, as it does seem to motivate her to get them done before she goes to bed.

Another symptom of her getting older is her complaining, I think. As an example, she will say that it is difficult for her to find time to pay the monthly bills during her lunch hour.

Come on now lads, we take 'em for better or worse, so I just smile and offer encouragement. I tell her to stretch it out over two, or even three days. That way, she won't have to rush so much. I also remind her that missing lunch completely now and then wouldn't hurt her any (if you know what I mean). I like to think tact is one of my strong points.

When she is doing simple jobs, she seems to think she needs more rest periods.

Like for instance when she was mowing the lawn she had to take a break when she was only half-finished. I try not to make a scene. I'm a fair man. I tell her to fix herself a nice, big, cold glass of freshly squeezed lemonade and just sit for a while and as long as she is making one for herself, she may as well make one for me, too.

I know that I probably look like a saint in the way I support my wife. I'm not saying that showing this much consideration is easy. Many men will find it difficult. Some will find it impossible! Nobody knows better than I do how frustrating women get as they get older.

However, even if you just use a little more tact and less criticism of your aging wife because of this article, I will consider that writing it was well worthwhile.

After all, we are put on this earth to help each other.



PLEASE NOTE:
Peter, died suddenly on January 31 of a perforated rectum. The police report says he was found with a Calloway extra-long 50-inch Big Bertha Driver II golf club jammed up his rear end, with barely 5 inches of grip showing, and a sledge hammer lying nearby.

His wife was arrested and charged with murder. The all-woman jury took only 10 minutes to find her Not Guilty, accepting her defense that Peter, somehow without looking, accidentally sat down on his golf club.