How To Fix A Toilet

The most effective way to fix a toilet is to cooperate with your spouse! For some reason, we always end up with wild plumbing issues that need to be fixed in our house. I think my husband and I should be crowned honorary plumbers at this point. Last night, as we struggled with our leaking toilet, I realized this is how a husband and wife are supposed to get along. Sure, you can get annoyed and testy when water starts gushing out of your supposedly “fixed” toilet onto the floor, but if you can laugh it off and work together to fix the problem, it shows you have a solid bond.

In my first marriage, the most simple household repair could dissolve into a day (or more) of misery and fury. 

Ex: The sink is backed up again! Why do you keep pouring grease down the sink!!?!?

Me: I haven’t cooked anything with grease since Thanksgiving, so I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Ex: Yeah, right. Just go get me a wrench. 

Me: Yes, sir!

Ex: Why do you have to be such a bitch? Forget it, I’ll look at it later after I get back from J’s house. I’ll be home around 10.

Me: Great, see you at 2AM.

Ex: See? You’re a bitch.

OK, so maybe I was a bitch with my ex, but I still feel it was justified behavior! One our most infamous fights was over another household repair -- the dreaded breaking of the bathroom mirror. I accidentally broke the medicine chest mirror one day. What should have been a $20 piece of glass became a $250 repair that we did NOT have the money for.
 
Me: Listen, this is totally unnecessary. I’m going to go down to the glass shop and get the mirror replaced.

Ex: You’re always looking for the easy answer! And you don’t understand what quality is. I don’t care if I have to spend $1,000, this bathroom is going to look nice.