Thursday, March 12, 2009

Laundry Chronicles: The Untucker


That's right. It's about time I got you another episode of the Laundry Chronicles up...

It’s common in a marriage to find that you have some extreme differences. Some of these are due to upbringing, some personality types, and some I believe are designed by God for the sole purpose of pushing you to your limits for the purpose of growth.

I am a typical first born personality. I like order and organization. I enjoy having things neat and tidy. I need to be in control. This shows in many areas of my life from the way that my kitchen drawers look when you open them, all the way down to the apparently “neat” way that I spread the peanut butter on my bread (as stated recently by my best friend). Now, don’t get a messed up image in your head thinking that my house is spick and span. It’s often a pit. You see, I am one of those neat and tidy people that has to have it done fully and completely the right way, no halfway jobs at our house. If it can’t be done properly right now, then it will just have to wait.

My husband is not this way, in fact, he is the opposite in many ways. He is the epitomy of an efficient person. His goal is always to get it done quickly and in the most efficient way possible. I am often surprised at how quickly he can get cleaning done around the house- why can’t I do that! It’s just that when I go to open the knife drawer, the knives aren’t in the exact place that I would have them be and the toys are piled in the kid’s bins with no rhyme or reason.

Well, early in our marriage…very early, we figured out that this difference can be a very big deal sometimes. You see, we have to share a bed. We have to share sheets! You can imagine the disaster that can be. I, being the sound-minded individual that I am, use my sheets properly. I tuck them in when I make the bed and I pull them out just enough to get into them. I then proceed to pull the covers up one at a time until I am snugly settled into bed. When he is away and I am sleeping on my own, the bed looks like it was never entered at all with just a quick lift of the blankets. It’s just the way it is meant to be done. HE on the other hand, will climb into bed by ripping the covers up in a roaring motion and once laying down throws his feet up into the air for the exact reason of UNTUCKING. He lives to be unrestricted in his sleep.

You think that I am making this sound like a big deal for entertainment, but I will assure you that I have actually cried a time or two over these cover issues. Serious tears, I am for real. So, how do we deal with this? For the sake of our marriage we had to figure something out. We had to compromise. The deal is, on the day that I make the bed and wash the sheets, he has to wait for me to climb into bed first. (Don’t call me a tyrant, it was a gift to me that he decided to do.) The rest of the time, I just have to deal with the feeling that I sleep with a tornado each night. It’s something I am still learning to live with…

This is something I found while looking for images that I thought I should share. They have a split-sheet design for this very issue! He can be sloppy, while she is neatly tucked. I am not sure that it would work for me, but I thought I would share it if only for the purpose of letting you know that I am not the only one with this issue.

OBVIOUSLY.

See you tomorrow evening with a Meet the Family post!

10 comments:

Best Fantasy and Science Fiction said...

You just admitted I'm a tornado in bed! Everyone saw it!

In all seriousness, I hate being restricted in bed. I don't know why. Those tight tucked covers, t-shirts, socks, it all just doesn't work when you are trying to be comfortable and sleep. Too restrictive. Maybe it's my slight fear of confined spaces...really just the fear of getting stuck in a pipe. Quite odd I know. But seriously, you never know. Don't make me cry! :)

Great post! I love you!

Brie said...

Can I move in with you guys? I really miss living with you for this reason exactly, your craziness! This is such a classic Tom and Amber! I agree with Tom on this one, I can't stand the sheets being tucked in!!!!! And Tom, you tornado you, your fear of getting stuck in a pipe, is no more odd than my silly seagull fear! We are strange people!

Suzie said...

haha...I'm definitely with you on the whole first born neatness/order thing! I'm the same way..not necessarily with sheets..but this works out too cuz we sleep at different times :)

Pure Mommy Extract said...

Brie, you are welcome to come live with us. Do you want to share a bed with "Tornado Smiles" who takes after his Daddy, or Curly who sleeps in a ball in the middle of her bed? I guess there is always the option of Lily, but she has REALLY bad breath!

Seriously, I hope I at least have one kid someday that sleeps properly. I live in a house full of sloppy sleepers!

Jami Janelle said...

I am totally a non-tucker tornado style sleeper myself. Thank you for sharing how to work through this issue. You might save me in the future... or at least get me to ask a question about how a future mate tucks or untucks his sheets at night. :)

Unknown said...

This was all very humorous. Just a bit of encouragement.....after 12years of marriage, my tucked sleeping style has effortlessly gone over to the other side. :-) I never thought this would ever happen. BUT...I still wear socks! I don't think that will EVER change!!!

Unknown said...

This was all very humorous. Just a bit of encouragement.....after 12years of marriage, my tucked sleeping style has effortlessly gone over to the other side. :-) I never thought this would ever happen. BUT...I still wear socks! I don't think that will EVER change!!!

Stefanie said...

I too, am a firstborn and am so like you with the neat and tidy but ONLY when it can all be done and done right! My husband and I use different blankets because we have different sleeping habits as well. He would prefer to use the same blanket but it just doesn't work for me.

Anonymous said...

I CANNOT get into an unmade bed...period. I have to make it first. I like to sleep quietly under the covers and my husband likes to kick the bottom of the bed open. He says he likes to stick his feet out if he gets hot. That makes sense to me. But I still have to tuck his side in every morning after he leaves, (Bed's not made if sheet's not tucked!) and he has to kick it out again that night... and every night.

I really don't mind how bad he messes up the bed as long as he's in there with me. I get cold and he really keeps me warm!

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

I love your blog. So glad I ran across it in my blog reading. I want to go back later tonight and read your story

I am new to the blog world and have so much to learn.

When you have some time, stop by for a visit!

Teresa