Benny Bong has over 40 years of experience as a therapist, counsellor and trainer. He also conducts regular talks and webinars. Benny has helmed the You & Your Family column for more than 16 years and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
Mixed doubles
M
y wife and I had the opportunity
Although some of the differences may
recently to visit and observe up
seem trivial, over time it could become
close some couples—all married for more
the pebble in one's shoe, causing
than 20 years—who appeared as different
annoyance that eventually leads to open
as chalk and cheese.
warfare or even a permanent schism. We may have heard of couples who fight over
You, too, probably know of such couples.
their toothpaste, because one spouse
For example, where one spouse is a lark
systematically begins from the bottom
while the other an owl in their sleeping
and carefully rolls up the tube while
and waking patterns. One whose idea of a
the other squeezes the tube wherever
good holiday involves dashing off to cover
convenient.
as many sights as possible, while all the other wants is to stay put and relax. One a hoarder while the other a minimalist in their approach to possessions. I think you get the idea of what I mean by the differences which "mixed doubles" have to endure living with one another.
28 Methodist Message August 2023