I read an interesting column today in the Kingston Whig Standard, our local newspaper, entitled “View from a Husband Bench” by Fraser Petrick. Before I go on please take the time to read the article by clicking on to the following link: http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2898943
After reading the first paragraph describing his wife telling him to wait for him while she went into a store to shop, I was leery that it was yet another story criticizing women and their “obsession” with shopping. I hung in there, however, and read on. I found myself chuckling to myself as I realized that his description of the husband/wife shopping experience is probably fairly accurate for most couples. Although the message that Mr. Petrick wanted to relay and the epiphany that I received may be at opposite ends of the spectrum, I found myself asking an important question. Why do women ask their male partners or spouses to shop with them? Don’t they know that (in general) men don’t enjoy shopping with us? I’m not saying they don’t like shopping at all, but their method of this art is very different than ours. So, why mix it up and create the frustration the writer is describing.
I discovered this phenomenon early on as a 24 year old young bride. We were on vacation and we stopped at an outlet mall. We only had so much time to spend at the mall, so I decided that I would scope out the stores with the shopping guide that was given at the gate. I would prioritize which stores I would spend time investigating first, and if there was time left over, I would go back and take a quick look at the ones I missed. My husband, on the other hand, had another strategy. He wanted to start at the beginning and work his way down one side of the row of stores and then come back on the other side. I looked at him, assessed his walking speed, which was less than half of mine, and quickly determined that this was never going to work. How did he think we would be able to see everything in such a short period of time? I was irritated that he would even fathom such a plan.
Being recently married, I didn’t want to “rock the boat”, and I thought I should want to shop with my husband so, I agreed to do it his way. “You need to relax and enjoy the experience”, he told me. I made it to the fourth store, turned to him, and explained that I couldn’t do it. I was itching to get moving. I was an expert shopper. The “browsing” pace was killing me. There was so much out there yet to be seen. I couldn’t deny it; I did not want to shop with him!! He laughed and told me to go ahead, and to meet him at the “starting gate” in two hours. Away I went.
In conclusion, ladies, don’t make your husband shop with you. Admit it, he really doesn’t want to, and you don’t really enjoy his company during a shopping expedition. Let him do his shopping on his own, and give him a specific list of what you want so, he doesn’t have to guess. Everyone will be much happier and you will have way more time to do the things that you want to do..........like shopping. How great would that be?!?!
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