Battle of Wills

The Great Cold War 2010 has finally ended at our house. For those of you who are unaware, the hubby and I have been embroiled in a bitter battle of wills for months, possibly the entire year. I don't remember exactly when it started. You see, I hate cleaning the bathroom. I hate it. I really hate it. So I haven't done it since the last time our master bath was cleaned. That's the date I'm fuzzy about. I'm not sure when I cleaned it last. I only know for certain that the last time the bathroom was completely cleaned, top to bottom, I was the one to do it. In fact, I'm the only one who has done it since we moved into the house in April 2007. Hubby will clean a little, sweep, clean the toilet, wipe his hair off of the sink, but he won't clean the bath tub. I'm the only person to clean our bath tub for years. I even had to do it while I was pregnant, which is neither comfortable, easy or safe. I, however, am not the only one to use our bath tub. So....I refused to clean it after the last time. I absolutely refused. That's when the war began.

I refused to clean it. Hubby refused to clean it. Actually, hubby was just going about his regular business. I'm pretty sure he was never aware that we were involved in a battle of wills. He refused to clean it and I refused clean it. Let's just say that the shower has become completely disgusting during this war. Seriously, it's been gross. I won't even touch the shower curtain liner. Hubby generally is more neat than I am. Messes bother him a lot more so I just knew that he would give in first and clean it, especially since he has more time throughout the day than I do. I just knew that he would break down and clean it. I knew that months ago. I knew that weeks ago. Every time he called me at work and said that he'd done a little cleaning before leaving for school, I just knew that he'd finally become completely disgusted with the condition of the bathroom and cleaned it up. And yet, every time, he had not. I started to wonder if he even noticed that it was dirty.

So, you might ask, what's happened. Did he finally clean it? Did I finally clean it? Did the health department condemn us?

Well, our battle of wills has ended. And, you may or may not be surprised to find out that my hubby is much stronger and more stubborn than I. That's right, I broke down this morning and cleaned the shower. And let me tell you, it was disgusting, it was hard work, and I hated every single second of it. I've completely replaced our shower curtain liner because it was too gross to deal with. I would have taken before and after pictures so you could actually see how much work was involved but I figured if pictures got out Social Services might have to investigate the conditions in which I raise my children. I used an entire can of Scrubbing Bubbles, which I hate. That particular cleaner is not strong enough and just forced me to use more elbow grease. Hubby had used all of my The Works cleaner, which I think could strip the bark right off an oak tree. What he used it for I have no idea as I've not actually seen anything cleaned. Listen to me, recommending cleaning products like a regular housewife. Cute, huh?

Baby BK helped me in as much as Baby BK helps with anything. He brought 2 lemons upstairs, for what purpose I couldn't say. He brought a bottle of water upstairs, for what purpose I couldn't say. He then spilled the water all over my bath mat. He caught me unaware and took a cup of water out of the bathroom. I was using the cup to rinse the tub and gauge my progress. He spilled it in the bedroom. Then spilled some more when he put one of the lemons in it. He took my can of hair spray and sprayed it all over the hall floor. He found a tube of pink lipstick in my drawer and half of it has since disappeared. I'm not sure what happened to it. I haven't found it anywhere yet so he may have eaten it.

Anyway......I guess it's nice to have gotten it over with even though I am on the losing end of this battle. It seems petty, I'm sure, the fact that I would live in such a disgusting situation just to have my way. It may be petty. That's just how I roll though. :)