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Hey Dad,

There are many famous battles in the history books: The Battle of the Alamo, Bull Run, and Gettysburg. A lesser known struggle is the Battle of the Thermostat.

It usually begins when the furnace is kicked on for the first time. There are basically two sides: hers and MINE. She likes to be comfortable and I like to be … cheap.

The first shot was fired yesterday. I was lying in bed when I smelled the faint odor of burning dust. It smelled familiar … comforting. Then I realized what it was—the furnace. Something inside me snapped. It was only the middle of September!

After all we live in Northern Indiana, not Iceland. I mean, what's a little chill in the air? The furnace shouldn't be turned on until the first of November … at the earliest!

I slipped downstairs and planned to secretly turn off the furnace when my wife wasn't looking … but somehow I opened my mouth and said in a rather annoyed tone, "Does it bother you that we've gone from air conditioning to heat in two days?"

Apparently it didn't, but it did bother her that I cared more about saving a few bucks than I cared about her. What made it worse was that it bothered me too. In my heart I know that Debbie is worth more than the $13 that I would save by being stingy, but somehow when the furnace kicked on, my brain kicked off.

That was yesterday. Today I surrendered. I laid my weapons down and will not say another thing about the thermostat, the cost, or the insane timing of turning it on so blasted early. From now on I will care more about the comfort of my wife than the size of my heating bill.

So, what battles rage in your house? Is it the battle of the thermostat, the battle of eating out, the battle of arriving late, or the battle of high expectations? Whatever the battle, your strategy should be the same.

Surrender.

Prove to your wife that she is more important than high prices, inconveniences, and yourself.

You 'da Dad!

© 2005 Todd Wilson. Used by permission.

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