I came home to an empty house after work to find that the carefully cleaned and organized kitchen which has been betrothed as my “office” has been germified by none other than the “famps” (energy zapping family). Murky, filthy and slime covered dishes filled my sink.

As I fussed to none other than my Princess (Malti-poo) about such an atrocious act, it hit me that perhaps complaints do serve one purpose…which I will get to in a few moments.

Now, I hate doing dishes! Ask my sister, I’d rather clean the tub with the Lord of the Rings around it than to do the dishes. I was one of those ridiculously dainty girlie girls that didn’t like to get their hands dirty and guess what I still don’t (aside from the occasional spray paint fest)! I would ask for gloves in my youth and eventually my mother got tired of me half-ass washing dishes with cold water that she thankfully summoned my sis’ to the task…S/O to my bestie aka my sis’ for pretty much doing all my chores growing up! Anyhow, now that I have my own family, I look to delegate because that’s what good wives and moms do, right? However, Kid 1 and Kid 2 are not here nor is the Hubs!

I politely turned the light off and grudgingly stated aloud to Princess “I can’t deal” as I walked to watch Hollywood Divas. Fast forward about 30 minutes>>>>>>>

I call the Hubs to get their ETA and he states “Hey can you put the plate away that I left on the dining room table?” URGGHHH!!! Now this sigh is not because I don’t want to, it’s what fueled him to ask.

Me: “What makes you think I didn’t?”

Hubs: “Come on, I know you didn’t!” stated with what I imagine is a hint of ‘Woman please you ain’t do shit!’ (Side note: Hubs doesn’t curse but it fits the image in my head)

I have two options here: A. Lie and say I did just to prove him wrong as I like hate to do lol! Or 2. Admit that I was a lazy Muppet who sat on a tuffet eating cookies all day!

A girl has to do what a girl has to do!

Me: “I did.”

Shit! Now I really have to get up and not only get rid of one dish but do all the dishes just to make a point. What that point is I don’t know… but I’m making it damnit! So I had to touch all the filthy, funky, foul food covered dishes!

Now when he comes home I can show him how dutiful I am and rub his nose in the happenstance!

The point of this post is that complaints can act as mirrors showing you parts of yourself that you can’t afford to ignore. The mirror here is showing me that all too often I neglect this chore and just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean I can afford to overlook it. I surely saw the mess but I left it for later, for someone else and/or for the dish fairy because at the moment procrastinating was a better option.

However, it has also become a pattern for me if my Hubs can say “I know you didn’t (Although, it was his mess)”. We often times put off things for later that we can do right away and get it over with… dishes are no exception! Don’t take on the “Queens don’t do dishes” attitude and just give your best right away so people won’t side eye you like “Bitch please!”

“There are times in life when, instead of complaining, you do something about your complaints” (Rita Dove).

Now, go forth and…

Girl, Stop Complaining!