Dear Carolyn • My fiance grew up in a close-knit community with a lot of extended family. They frequently helped each other out with projects. It is common in my fiance’s life for people to have painting or moving parties. I am not a fan of this custom, but I attend about half of them out of a sense of community. My family handled this ourselves or we hired people if necessary.
We are moving into a town house soon and already his family and friends are planning to swing by and help. I realize they have good intentions, but I would actually rather tackle these projects myself or with a neutral person. When his parents found out we hired movers they were actually offended. I would much rather ask a stranger to move my couch three times than my fiance’s cousin. If something breaks, there is also a clear way to remedy it.
My fiance thinks we should pick a few projects for them to help on because they want to so badly. But it is our house, and I don’t really think it is our responsibility to move in and paint in a way that makes other people happy.
My fiance said his family thinks I come off as cold about this issue; I think his family comes off pushy and meddlesome.
How do I reconcile these differences with my fiance? Do I just hand them a paintbrush and bite my tongue?
— A Little Help From My Friends
Answer • Your fiance already handed you the perfect way to reconcile these differences: by inviting crowd help on a few projects you aren’t picky about.
You just don’t like that because you (1) Think you’re right; (2) Think being right is a complete answer; and, (3) Don’t want anyone touching your house — so I suspect you’ll shoot down any suggestions that welcome people in.
Here’s the thing. It’s your fiance’s house, too. You both get equal say in how to make it a home. You’re thinking paint but he’s thinking people and love — and your declaring that it’s not your responsibility to make other people happy, while true, says you completely totally utterly and at a cosmic level fail to appreciate how much community means to your fiance.
So, either pick your colors, set an invasion date and let the village paint — preferably greeting them at the door with lemonade and brownies — or give the wisdom of this marriage a very hard rethink.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
People shouldn't buy property together before they get married. If they break up before the wedding, they will have a mess.
It's a mess even if they are married and get a divorce.
I don't want anyone but a professional painting my walls. People who are not professionals tend to suck at painting and it can look a lot worse, splatters on the ceiling,etc. But in this scenario, I think they are worlds apart. She should choose one room, such as the spare bedroom, to have these helpers paint. Tell them she hasn't decided on colors for other rooms or even if she wants them painted.
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
People shouldn't buy property together before they get married. If they break up before the wedding, they will have a mess.
It's a mess even if they are married and get a divorce.
I don't want anyone but a professional painting my walls. People who are not professionals tend to suck at painting and it can look a lot worse, splatters on the ceiling,etc. But in this scenario, I think they are worlds apart. She should choose one room, such as the spare bedroom, to have these helpers paint. Tell them she hasn't decided on colors for other rooms or even if she wants them painted.
It's painting. It aint Rocket Science. There are literally a 1000 jobs that need done around one's home at any one time. How about cleaning the gutters? Yard work. Washing windows and on and on? Why snub your nose at getting some help? Sheesh.
People shouldn't buy property together before they get married. If they break up before the wedding, they will have a mess.
It's a mess even if they are married and get a divorce.
I don't want anyone but a professional painting my walls. People who are not professionals tend to suck at painting and it can look a lot worse, splatters on the ceiling,etc. But in this scenario, I think they are worlds apart. She should choose one room, such as the spare bedroom, to have these helpers paint. Tell them she hasn't decided on colors for other rooms or even if she wants them painted.
It's painting. It aint Rocket Science. There are literally a 1000 jobs that need done around one's home at any one time. How about cleaning the gutters? Yard work. Washing windows and on and on? Why snub your nose at getting some help? Sheesh.
It's a townhouse. So outside work is the responsibility of the HOA. The only projects that these people can help with are indoor projects. Cleaning windows is a good idea.
__________________
Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
People shouldn't buy property together before they get married. If they break up before the wedding, they will have a mess.
It's a mess even if they are married and get a divorce.
I don't want anyone but a professional painting my walls. People who are not professionals tend to suck at painting and it can look a lot worse, splatters on the ceiling,etc. But in this scenario, I think they are worlds apart. She should choose one room, such as the spare bedroom, to have these helpers paint. Tell them she hasn't decided on colors for other rooms or even if she wants them painted.
It's painting. It aint Rocket Science. There are literally a 1000 jobs that need done around one's home at any one time. How about cleaning the gutters? Yard work. Washing windows and on and on? Why snub your nose at getting some help? Sheesh.
It's a townhouse. So outside work is the responsibility of the HOA. The only projects that these people can help with are indoor projects. Cleaning windows is a good idea.
Yeah, there are plenty of jobs she could get them on board with.
The only time we have ever had anyone other than family do anything with our house was when the tree fell on it.
We needed 3 rooms rebuilt and a whole new roof.
Other than that, our family is just like the family in the OP.
We just show up, roll up our sleeves and get busy.
Seems to me the LW needs to relax a little.
If they do this as often as it seems they do, they know what they are doing.
And it's going to save a bunch of money.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
They definitely need to come to some sort of middle ground or this is going to be a bone of contention in the marriage.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
It's their first home. There is nothing wrong with wanting things a certain way and the fiances family needs to not take it personally.
And he should not choose to piss off the person he's going to he living with over paint.
Let her be queen of her castle....geesh.
People shouldn't buy property together before they get married. If they break up before the wedding, they will have a mess.
It's a mess even if they are married and get a divorce.
I don't want anyone but a professional painting my walls. People who are not professionals tend to suck at painting and it can look a lot worse, splatters on the ceiling,etc. But in this scenario, I think they are worlds apart. She should choose one room, such as the spare bedroom, to have these helpers paint. Tell them she hasn't decided on colors for other rooms or even if she wants them painted.
But less so. There are courts specifically set up to handle division of property when a couple divorces. There are no "shacking up" courts. You can handle some things through regular, civil courts, but it's much messier and it becomes a matter of who paid for what when that aren't issues with divorce.
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I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
It's their first home. There is nothing wrong with wanting things a certain way and the fiances family needs to not take it personally. And he should not choose to piss off the person he's going to he living with over paint. Let her be queen of her castle....geesh.
This isn't about a house. This is about the sense of family and community that her husband grew up with. She needs to adjust, too. He even came up with a compromise and she wouldn't even do that. She sounds like a controlling b!tch.
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I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
Oh....I think letting them do minor stuff....like contact paper....hanging pics would be nice but I dont think they should push it if she wants to do certain things herself.
Oh....I think letting them do minor stuff....like contact paper....hanging pics would be nice but I dont think they should push it if she wants to do certain things herself.
But her fiance' has a say, too--and what if he wants them to do certain things? He offered a compromise--she shot it down. If he is smart, he'll call this whole thing off.
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I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
It's their first home. There is nothing wrong with wanting things a certain way and the fiances family needs to not take it personally. And he should not choose to piss off the person he's going to he living with over paint. Let her be queen of her castle....geesh.
This isn't about a house. This is about the sense of family and community that her husband grew up with. She needs to adjust, too. He even came up with a compromise and she wouldn't even do that. She sounds like a controlling b!tch.
Yes. This is bigger than a house. They need to come to some middle ground.
__________________
“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
Of course, by free I mean feeding and watering them.
That's what I was thinking!
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
If they can't figure this type of stuff out then I don't have confidence in this relationship lasting.
Yep. They'll be divorced within two years!
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
Of course, by free I mean feeding and watering them.
That's what I was thinking!
Great minds!
I like free. I will feed and water you. I don't care if you get paint on the ceiling.
I do have certain things I'd care about if they get broken but those would be put up.
Okay! I'll be over in short time and we can make some cookies together.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
She sounds a bit OCD. She needs to find a project for them where quality wouldn't really matter. I like the window cleaning idea. Or cleaning in general. I see trouble in the future.
I'd never pay for movers. What are friends and family for if they can't help you move?
I'm always willing to help other people move, too.
I hate moving people. So I just use movers. So much quicker. I'll help a friend pack up china and delicate stuff but I won't actually move stuff anymore.