I moved in with my boyfriend about nine months ago. It was great. It was exciting. There were lots of opportunities for us to be together and enjoy each others company. However, like many people who are living together for the first time, the initial excitement and energy wore off a bit and had to realize: I am actually living with this person. We share a space. We share a kitchen. A bedroom. A bathroom. All of this is exciting, but it also leads to many opportunities for him to leave his messes. And are there messes.
So I’ll just go ahead and say it: I am damn tired of seeing them. I’m tired of picking up after them. I know it’s not intentional and he doesn’t expect me to, but I can’t stand them. I fully knew that I was the cleaner person in the relationship. He always tried to pick up his place when I came over before we lived together, but the signs were there. A side-by-side comparison of our previous kitchens or bathrooms would make that obvious. But, I didn’t realize just how bad it would be.
So, I know that everyone isn’t always the cleanest. When it comes to cleaning around the house (especially furniture), most people only do it occasionally or sometimes. And that’s fine. But what’s currently going on is a bit excessive.
So what can I do? I know that communication is key in relationships. We need to talk calmly and both listen to each other if we’re going to make any progress. I need to clearly and calmly tell him what is bothering me and what I would like to see change. I need things to change but I’m willing to compromise in order to respect him.
But damn, dude, pick up your clothes.
