How To: Live With Your Opposite

The old adage says: Opposites Attract. So how do you live with your opposite?

Every couple experiences the little things about the other that rub you up the wrong way. I’ve found that it’s better to find a way to live with your spouse’s funny little quirks instead of fight them.

1. She wants to talk/ he fains sleep; If you find him asleep - write it down and talk about it later when the time is right.

2. He likes to sleep in pitch darkness/ she likes a light on – buy a small nitelite.

3. He wants to turn off the light /She likes to read in bed – torchlight/flashlight under the covers or a comfy reading chair in the lounge room.

4. He likes the fan/she does not – cover yourself with a blanket and face away from it.

5. He likes watching sports on TV with the boys - serve the drinks and snacks, or buy/or borrow another TV and watch a girlie movie in another room; or arrange timeout with the girls at the same time.

6. He prefers meat / She prefers vegetables – when eating out share a plate instead of
buying two. Have different ‘favourite’ restaurants? All you can eat buffets are great for picky eaters; or alternate.

7. If you find you are playing ‘tug-of-war’ with the blanket at night – buy two and
have one each.

8. If she prefers the toilet roll topside and he likes it under – put two roll holders near the toilet (one topside; one under)

9. If he squeezes the toothpaste in the middle/ she at the end – get a pump tube
instead.

10. Toilet seat (up or down) designate a ‘his’ and a ‘her’ bathroom.


The best alternative is to talk through all these ‘little’ things together calmly well before they become an irritation and an issue.

Copyright 2006. Rebecca Laklem.