In yesterday’s Globe and Mail, in their Social Studies section there was this interesting tidbit.
THE POWER OF WIVES
"Internet message boards and blogs, says the Atlanta Jounal-Constitution, are filled with married men pining for certain toys and commiserating with others about the dreaded WAF —WIFE ACCEPTANCE FACTOR.
Until recently, WAF was a taboo issue for many men to discuss, less one be branded a big wimp. “It’s always been there,” says Michael Tchong of San Francisco-based Ubercool, which tracks lifestyle and market trends. "but has not been formally documented until the Internet provided the necessary anonymity for men to talk about this. You never want to tell another guy your wife won’t let you buy something."
So who here amongst you married guys has WAF and are willing to talk about it?
I had just the opposite in my marriage, the wife couldn’t and wouldn’t stop spending. One day I said NO! Her response, “Nobody says NO to me!” With that, she left seven months later.
I don’t complain about how much my wife spends on her hobbies (quilting and knitting), and she doesn’t complain about how much I spend on my hobbies (music, hiking, kayaking). It works for us.
Of course, it helps that we’re both careful to not spend more than we can afford, and to coordinate the big purchases. Marriage is a partnership, not a competition.
My wife and I take care of finances about the same way. She still works as a teacher and I am almost retired, I still work part time. And like blackhawk said I do not have a lot of time for details here. I washed and dried six loads of laundry today and need to fold them before they cool. My wife and sons can put them away. I am done.
Ditto – my wife is into sewing and music; I’m into music and brewing/vinting (the latter of which I do for her).
Oh, damn, man, I feel for ya.
Actually, my wife somewhat enjoys laundry (especially since I got her the front-loader after extensive consultation), which I detest; I love cooking, which she has no love for, so everybody’s happy.
The other night, my wife and I were getting into bed. Well, the passion starts to heat up, and I get a little frisky, and she eventually says “I don’t feel like it, I just want you to lie next to me and hold me.”
My brilliant retort was something along the lines of “Huh??”
So she says the words that every husband on the planet dreads to hear. “You’re just not in touch with my emotional needs as a woman.”
Obviously nothing was going to happen that night; so I snuggled up and went to sleep.
The very next day I opted to take the day off of work to spend time with her so she’d know I was interested in more than just what we did in the bedroom. We went out to a nice lunch and then went shopping at a Macy’s. I walked around with her while she tried on several different very outfits. She couldn’t decide which one to take so I told her to get them all. She wanted new shoes to compliment her new clothes, so I said lets get a pair for each outfit. I knew she was testing me when she said a new pair of earrings would be nice to go with the new outfits, so we went onto the jewelry department where she picked out a pair of diamond earrings. Let me tell you…she was so excited! I think she was afraid to push her luck any further as she finally said, “I think this is enough honey, let’s go check out.”
That’s when I dropped the bombshell. “No honey, I don’t feel like it.”
Her face just went completely blank as her jaw dropped with a baffled WHAT?"
I then said “Honey! I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while. You’re just not in touch with my financial needs as a man.”
With all the money I saved, I got me a new whistle, so that I could while away those lonely hours on the couch.
OOOOPS! The wifey unit just read this. I don’t find wanderer’s post funny at all, rather, it is demeaning and stereotypical. And once these welts on the back of my head shrink back into my scalp, I promise never to endorse such tom foolery again… ever…
I am sitting here laughing about Greg’s post too. Then I thought about it…
What happens here, is that I will ask my hubby if I should buy this or that and he always says, “Why are you asking me? Do I ask you if I can by stuff? Buy it!” And I say, “And there in lies the problem!” By the way he is an O-Gauge Train enthusiast.
I am sitting here laughing about Greg’s post too. Then I thought about it… 
By the way he is an O-Gauge Train enthusiast.
