This past weekend we went shopping at Ikea. The very mention of the name, triggers assorted visceral responses in all. If you’re looking for efficiency and don’t want to spend a lot, it’s a lot of fun. We went for our BB’s bed, he’s been on a mattress on the floor. Anyway, it’s interesting to go on a Saturday morning because you’ll find it FULL of families with young children. There’s a lot of wandering, whining, and eye rolling. The kids don’t like it either.
My husband and I have kind of mastered the process. I do a lot of pre-shopping surveillance so we can go straight to what we need. He has strong opinions about what he sees, but I need to get him there. We kind of know we’ll eat at their cafeteria because our BB will want to “eat” there, though he doesn’t really “eat” anything there. BG just hangs out. I usually have the technical measurements and my husband knows how to load the boxes onto the cart and into the car.
Then comes the assembly. We count anything that doesn’t require a second trip a success. Now, if you are “traditional” about gender roles, my husband would bring out his tools and masterfully assemble the furniture, while I look on in admiration. In this case we are not traditional.
Along with the tools, pieces and instructions it requires these skills:
- The ability to read and follow instructions
- Extreme patience for niggling little annoyances (e.g. strange instruction diagrams, manufacturing variations, etc.)
- Satisfaction in using just a screwdriver, as opposed to every power tool known to man.
At least in our case, my husband likes to build with the detail and precision of a craftsman. He will do it the “right” way and the nearly indestructible way. So following somebody else’s pictoral instructions is OUT. We’ve always found some little workmanship things with furniture pieces, which his precision craftsman-self cannot tolerate. Lastly, like most men, they LOVE their tools, so IKEA furniture just doesn’t appeal. Needless to say, I do the assembling.
I’m not sure what situation others have, but I’ve found that in marriage, the best person for the job is usually the best person for the job. Not “the man does this, the woman does that.” I like to cook and think about nutrition, so I do that. I do the day to day finances. My husband loves and has the energy to do the active play with the kids. He’s really good as researching, so he does all the investment/ big ticket purchasing. He’s also really good at handling customer service people.
*As an aside, when I complain, people seem automatically offended. I try to be as nice as possible, but somehow when it comes out of my mouth, they shut down. If my husband says the same thing, they trip over themselves to correct the problem. I just don’t know how he does it. *
Anyway, I’m getting tired. I guess what I’m trying to say is that if you have somebody in your life who is your partner in raising your kids, remember ALL the great things they do for you. Sure, they aren’t perfect, but if they were, that would be SO annoying.
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Give your honey a squeeze and say “I love you.” and for fun tell them they have a cute butt.
