When your bathtub becomes a battleground

I think that sounds like a great book title.

Tonight is as good a night as any to let you inside the chaos that is my marriage.
Yes, you can keep reading - it's not about the 'dirty laundry' - this laundry is actually quite clean.

I do my laundry. And like kj, I am allergic to putting it away.
After you do all the work to sort it, wash it, dry it, sort it again, fold it, yada yada yada - I cannot seem to bring myself to put it away.

His, that is.

I put the kids' away. I put mine away. I put the bathroom and kitchen laundry away. I even put his laundry that goes into drawers away. But whenever I think about opening his closet door, I just simply cannot.

I think to myself, 'It will only take 5 minutes of his time. Surely he can do that...'
Then I dump it neatly in the bathtub and walk away.
I ask him when he gets home to "put it away when you get the chance."
He says he will.
I ask him in the same sweet tone of voice to put his laundry away every day for the next few weeks.
He says he will - never changing his tone either.

We civilly, silently, and passively 'argue' over whose job it is to put away his laundry for weeks that turn into months. Until one day, somebody gives in.

I have always been that somebody.

In earlier years of our marriage, I did this menial task without so much as grumbling on most days. Now that I am a bit more sturdy in my beliefs about household chore sharing, I have grown the proverbial 'laundry putting away' backbone. You hadn't heard of such a backbone?
Oh yes, it does exist - and I am the proud new owner of one!

So I stand before you today, a woman with a new badge.
I was not the "somebody who gave in" for the first time in our marriage.

He put his laundry away.
After a month and a half.

I have finally outlasted him.
At least with regard to clean laundry.