How do you convince your significant/insignificant others?

[PurpleChicken]

This is so hard because we know nothing about him.

Does he help with the animals?

Does he "seem" to enjoy them?

Does he indulge you on other things you want?

Are the animals causing any stress in your lives?

Are any of the animals his? (Our rabbits and silkies are my wife's or at least
that's what I let her think. The quail is her's now too. Sucker)

Is he just a laid back guy?

 

[kinnip]

Quote:
He builds most of the housing for the animals. If I ask him to do something he will.

He really does enjoy them. He's a genuine animal lover. I think he's a little overwhelmed by the enormity of it all.

His policy on things I want is that I should "do what I gotta do". The assumption being that he will then do what he's gotta do. Stress anyone?

I'm sure the animals are causing some stress, but he's not the type to mention it. He's not a 'sharing' type dude. I don't want him to feel like he's lost complete control of his home.

I like Wolf-Kim's idea, but he doesn't have any hobbies, except the occasional skiing trip. I've never seen a person so obsessed with work. The only things he wants are work related (tools, laptop, a new jig), so they're paid for through our company.

Maybe I'm just overreacting.

 

[ponderchick]

Most guys will holler when it gets too much! Personally I was the one who had to get talked into chickens! Dh fussed for a year or two that i needed hens. I told him no I hate chickens , you couldn't pay me to take them! Well now I am the proud mama of seventy three of them, and i love each and every one, and have never regretted getting any of them, even with extra work tending to them! After getting the girls my dh and I have added another pet here and there, and we have done ok. Just keep the line of communication working, and I bet everything will be ok!

 

[cjeanean]

get the animals and if he notices claim they were already there....just magically appeared....

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Quote:
I don't think you're overreacting, I worry about it too. But, Adam let's me know he doesn't like the work related with the animals. He HATES building pens.

If I cannot figure out something that he would want, I simply ask.

They usually comes up with something, be it a special meal(lasagna, etc), a toy for his XBox(Adam's big weakpoint), a new gun(another weekpoint

), or a "favor". They can figure out something, I'm sure.

Adam and I have gotten pretty good at bartering for what we both want. We don't feel we have to, because he lets me get away with just about anything, but I feel I owe him. It works for us, I want geese, he wants a $50 game for his XBox, win-win.

You'll figure something out.

-Kim

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Kinnip - Personally, it sounds like you have a jewel of a man there. And so sweet that you are fretting about him getting overwhelmed. It sounds like you are both kind, considerate, cool animal lovers - a perfect match.

 

[PurpleChicken]

He does sound like a good guy, and that's coming from another good guy.

Being wrapped up in work is normal for many of us for too many reasons to mention.
Most of those reasons are good ones.

My advice is to always make sure he feels like your #1 priority. Most guys don't wanna
be hung on but we wan't to know we are apreciated and loved. (Sound familiar ladies?)

I don't think you are over-reacting. I think you are justafiably concerned and showing
respect for him.

 

[Chickenaddict]

The shoe was on the other foot for me... My husband asked me to "pick out chicks" from a mcmurrays catalog and i refused telling him that i didnt know anything about chickens nor did i want the added responsibility of taking care of them. I do EVERYTHING around here and i mean everything. Yardwork, dishes, cleaning house, maintenance, ect ect ect. Well he got them anyway, 52 of the little fuzz balls. We ended up selling quite a few because 52 chickens is alot for an acre of land. I intended to free range them. He built a coop and we got a 10 ft by 15 ft dog kennel free from my father that ended up to be their run for winter months. Now we have 24, 14 are still babies and im picking up 4 new 12 week old seramas today

. the saga continues LOL. He can't stop me now hes created a chicken loving MONSTER lol!

 

[kinnip]

Thanks folks. I'll just keep keepin' on and hope he says something when he's had enough. I think it'll get easier for both of us when we're eating fresh eggs and milk.

 

[Mycookoonest]

DH has slowly come around. I have a bad habit of having things show up to the house. The chickens were ordered and I told him about them when I ordered them, but he didn't know about the eggs coming from SIL, or the other eggs I had shipped.

He hit his limit when I got the turkey eggs. Now I know to back off with what I have and work on him next year...

He didn't know I was getting Bella (our Golden) until I was on my way to pick her up... that was an adventure!

I say take cues from him... if he starts to get moody when it comes to animals back off for a while (or as long as you can stand it). And you know for sure when he says "No new pets" that you should probably stop for a while! LOL!

DH also loves the chickens now... he lets them out every morning and LOVES to give them treats!