Brick House Lament
Dear Top Hat Rex,
I got up in the night to pee and along the way I stepped firmly upon a square LEGO.
A surprising rush of pain jolted up my body, causing me to yell the following words: “These fckn’ LEGOs! I hate them!!”
My daughter immediately woke up crying. I went in and got her back to sleep, but I felt bad.
My husband is still mad at me the next day, pouting and saying that I “don’t respect his hobby.”
Hey, build all the limited-edition spaceships and lore-accurate castle battlements that you want, but let a lady make a pee run in peace, am I right?
Seriously, am I right?
Signed,
Pretty Ornery Damsel
Dear P.O.’d,
Oh, the sacrifices we make for our companion or betrothed!
Even trips to the restroom can suffer love’s slings and arrows.
While I, myself, have never experienced a LEGO, the feeling is rumored to be equal to a root canal, shark attack, or stepping on hot lava.
Any fair soul would wince and recoil (and maybe scream profanity) in such a moment.
You immediately tended to your child. That is the important thing. Priorities remained intact.
Your husband must take responsibility for being a messy hobbyist. Most collectors would not leave stray pieces strewn about the floor.
That is surface level, however.
The real truth lies hidden underneath, as it often does.
You resent the time or money he spends on his hobby. He feels this resentment, to the point it quietly chaffs and annoys him.
Some might label this as an inflection point. I am one such labeler.
You could have shouted anything in your moment of discomfort. But the first thing on your mind? ‘I hate them.’
You hate the way he spends his leisure time. That feeling? It should be addressed. For it is strong.
This negotiation is a private matter between you and your husband.
Enter into these talks with a generous heart, if you are able.
Perhaps tell him that you wish to connect deeper? To lock in more with one other?
If he is a worthy fellow, he will see the benefit of a strong foundation.
We build our relationships one piece at a time, on and on, until the construct steers toward the proper and most pleasant shape.
Counterpoint commentary by …
Marzonk! the Strong-Man
Marzonk! have similar experience. Woke up in night once for same reason.
Use toilet!
But there was object lurking in night, leading to fateful toe stub. On dumbbell! A dumbbell that Marzonk! had put there on purpose, put by bed, as reminder to work extra on deltoids next way.
So angry!
Marzonk! still lived alone then, no Mrs. Marzonk! yet. And in quiet of night, Marzonk! raged like red-curtain bull.
Broke many things. Punched mirror. Smashed hole in wall. Hit own self in head with picture frame of dead grandfather.
Marzonk! learned true strength of anger that night. (Also learned truth of steroid influence on human body.)
Never took any supplement or muscle stimulant ever again.
Go to all-natural training!
Later, Marzonk! meet Mrs. Marzonk!. Find happiness for first time.
Coincidence? Not coincidence, truth! Cause and effect, and truth. Good change bring good change.
You must find your own good change.
No more smashing grandfather’s face!
No more steroids!
Build LEGOs with happy partner and you step ahead on nothing but joy.
