Relief washed over his face. He had no idea what was coming.
The next morning, I drafted my own list: “Jake’s Plan for Becoming the Best Husband Ever.” I mimicked everything from his schedule but added a few twists. A personal trainer to stay in shape? That’ll be $1,200. Want me to cook like a chef? Our grocery bill just shot up to $700 a month, and Jake might need to take a cooking class, too.
And the kicker? If I was going to dedicate myself to this “perfect wife” role, I’d have to quit my job. So, I added my salary: “$75,000 to replace Lisa’s income since she’ll be your full-time maid, chef, and personal assistant.”
I could hardly contain my laughter imagining Jake’s reaction. As a final touch, I added a $50,000 expense to build him a separate “man cave” so his friends wouldn’t disrupt my perfectly structured new life.
That evening, Jake returned home in high spirits—until he saw the list.
“What’s this?” he asked, puzzled.
“Oh, just a little guide I made for you,” I replied, smiling sweetly. “It’ll help you become the best husband ever.”
As he read through the lines, his grin faded. The costs, the demands, the absurdity of it all sank in. “$1,200 for a trainer? $700 for groceries? And… wait, you’re quitting your job?”
I leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “How else am I supposed to stick to your plan? You wanted structure, right?”
Reality hit him. His smugness disappeared, replaced by panic. “I… I didn’t mean for it to be like this. Steve made it sound reasonable, but now I get how ridiculous it is.”
I nodded. “Exactly. Marriage isn’t about one person ‘improving’ the other. It’s about respect. Try this again, and you’ll be paying a lot more than what’s on that list.”
Jake’s face softened, and he let out a deep sigh. “I’m sorry, Lisa. I got carried away. Steve’s advice was toxic.”
We tore up both lists together, and for the first time in weeks, I felt like we were on the same team again. This whole experience reminded us that a strong marriage isn’t about perfection—it’s about growing better, together.