We bought our house about 5 1/2 years ago now. When we bought it the dishwasher was a little bit wacky. As in, none of the buttons did what they were supposed to do, but if you twisted the knobs and pushed enough buttons it would eventually splash hot water around to the point that your dishes were clean…enough. I think it even rinsed them. But if I’m being real I’m not totally sure. We have well water so the glasses were never sparking regardless. And this is real life…so with 2 babies and our crazy work/school schedules “clean enough” dishes were always good enough for us.
But this past week, the thing finally quit for good. As in, it decided that it no longer wanted to drain its splishy-splashy hot water. It just wanted to maybe get my floor “clean enough” as well. It did not. I had to scoop all of the water out of it with a bowl, and then a cup, and then a spoon. Because sitting water stinks, and no one wants that, no matter how ghetto their dishwasher is.
I’m going to make an assumption here… that Josh and I aren’t the only married couple who find themselves pit against each other when it comes to whose turn it is to do the dishes. Josh is not a fan of housework and I… well I resist domestication at every turn. If it doesn’t involve painting, staining, or wall shelves… I’m out!
SO you can imagine my horror when the dishwasher broke. And having mentioned it’s preexisting ghetto tendencies, I don’t think I want to pay someone to come out and tell me that they can’t repair it. So for the past few days we’ve had to…wait for it… wash all of our dishes by hand. The horror!
I imagined the piles of dishes that would accumulate in the sink, as Josh refused to wash any and I therefore refused as well. (Yes, I know that I am stubborn and he is bull headed. Yes, I know this gets us nowhere. But this is real life.) Then I would likely give in first because I only like the silverware with the circle-y designs on the handle and I would run out and be forced to wash everything. Sigh.
But surprisingly, the piles never came. I don’t know what kind of parallel universe I am living in, but Josh washes the dishes after each meal he makes the kids (usually lunch,) and so I wash them at dinner. I don’t know if he’s even aware of it, but this is quite shocking. Perhaps he knows that I might snap and lose it if I have to wash all of the dishes…by hand…every day? Maybe it is an act of self preservation on his part? OR crazier idea… he’s intentionally helping me.
Who would have thought that a broken appliance could say so much about a relationship? I approach everything in life via some type of warrior complex. I expect to battle difficulties at every turn, even before they’re there. Josh goes about things in a painfully practical manner, “my wife will straight up lose her marbles if I don’t help her with this.” Don’t go giving him all of the credit… he is painfully lazy sometimes. His attitude is easily carried over into “if I don’t want to do that, then why should I have to?” Regardless of how necessary a task it might be. (Like doing dishes, ahem.)
Nevertheless, I am deeply appreciative of the simple gesture. It’s funny how something so simple can highlight so many different things. Have you ever read that book, The Five Love Languages? Me either, but I have skimmed it enough to know that I am an “acts of service” love receiver. Our dishwasher fiasco has only further confirmed this for me. And maybe, I should try harder not to expect fights that aren’t there yet. Small problems have a way of seeming like big problems sometimes, it can make you forget how lucky you are to only have small ones.
Great post! I really like your pictures throughout! You have a beautiful family!
Great post! I really like your pictures throughout! You have a beautiful family!
Loevly photo’s. I used to have a rule. If it can’t go in the dishwasher, I’m not buying it!. Then I moved an my kitchen is small and the design currently means I have no room for a diswasher. There have been may times I’ve contemplated moving so I can have a dishwasher again, but it’s the price I pay for my lovely house.
Loevly photo’s. I used to have a rule. If it can’t go in the dishwasher, I’m not buying it!. Then I moved an my kitchen is small and the design currently means I have no room for a diswasher. There have been may times I’ve contemplated moving so I can have a dishwasher again, but it’s the price I pay for my lovely house.
This is so sweet! I wish my husband was easier to get to do dishes!
This is so sweet! I wish my husband was easier to get to do dishes!
Awe. Great post. Isn’t it a nice surprise when you don’t have to ask your husband to do something?!
Awe. Great post. Isn’t it a nice surprise when you don’t have to ask your husband to do something?!
It is amazing when they do the little things to help out! They never really know how much it means to us!
It is amazing when they do the little things to help out! They never really know how much it means to us!
That is the sweetest! I love how simple things highlight the strength of a marriage. I have to nudge my husband a few times, but he’ll do it 🙂
That is the sweetest! I love how simple things highlight the strength of a marriage. I have to nudge my husband a few times, but he’ll do it 🙂
Oh goodness, I can imagine this struggle all too well since we don’t have a dishwasher at all! (I know, the horror!) What an awesome husband you’ve got there!
Oh goodness, I can imagine this struggle all too well since we don’t have a dishwasher at all! (I know, the horror!) What an awesome husband you’ve got there!
Dishwashers are such great things! And what a sweet story. A reminder we can learn lessons from most anything.
Dishwashers are such great things! And what a sweet story. A reminder we can learn lessons from most anything.
We are currently living in our first house, but the apartments we had before either didn’t have a dishwasher, or the dishwasher was just doing enough. When we moved here, though it seems a bit rickity, the house came with a GREAT dishwasher and we’re strangely obsessed. Love this sweet story! Who knew it could tell you so much!
PS Check out a ReStore by Habitat for Humanity for used OR new dishwashers at a fraction of the cost 🙂
We are currently living in our first house, but the apartments we had before either didn’t have a dishwasher, or the dishwasher was just doing enough. When we moved here, though it seems a bit rickity, the house came with a GREAT dishwasher and we’re strangely obsessed. Love this sweet story! Who knew it could tell you so much!
PS Check out a ReStore by Habitat for Humanity for used OR new dishwashers at a fraction of the cost 🙂
oh my gosh i love this ha. my husband and i have been together for almost 10 years and its safe to say were still getting to figure out one another’s strengths and weakness’s in certain situations! Cant wait to follow your blog journey! Hope you’ll stop by mine as well!
oh my gosh i love this ha. my husband and i have been together for almost 10 years and its safe to say were still getting to figure out one another’s strengths and weakness’s in certain situations! Cant wait to follow your blog journey! Hope you’ll stop by mine as well!