# Husbands, how do you cope.. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 26, 2011, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632 "2011-09-26T04:36:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632/1 "2011-09-26T04:36:00Z")
… with the monthly mood swings of your wives? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632/2 "2011-09-26T04:45:15Z")
monthly, or daily? Ha. Seriously, however, you just keep a sense of humor, don’t take it personally, and love her more. Then everyone can relax and ride it out. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632/3 "2011-09-26T04:45:39Z")
Just like anyone else. I punch her in the vagina, and scream “Bad Uterus!” ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632/4 "2011-09-26T04:48:08Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Just like anyone else. I punch her in the vagina, and scream “Bad Uterus!” Serious answers welcome.😉 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632/5 "2011-09-26T04:57:00Z")
> [@indian](#): > > Husbands, how do you cope.. > .. with the monthly mood swings of your wives? I only have one wife so it’s not that bad. I just work from the basis that anything that has to do be done with the cooperation of my wife has to be completed in 3 weeks. How many wives do you have? ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632/6 "2011-09-26T05:00:17Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I only have one wife so it’s not that bad. I just work from the basis that anything that has to do be done with the cooperation of my wife has to be completed in 3 weeks. > > How many wives do you have? It shouldn’t matter. They all sync up right? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632/7 "2011-09-26T05:05:09Z")
> [@indian](#): > > Serious answers welcome.😉 Apologies; when it comes to periods, I can only find the humor… Lest I go mad. Okay, seriously, it’s just not all that pronounced. She’s certainly miserable and cranky, so I just try and be understanding, and keep my usual obnoxiousness to a minimum. But I do punch a stuffed vagina doll to release my pent up frustrations. When not in use, it looks great in the curio cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632/8 "2011-09-26T05:06:08Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I only have one wife so it’s not that bad. I just work from the basis that anything that has to do be done with the cooperation of my wife has to be completed in **3 weeks**. > > How many wives do you have? So that one week is the" leave her alone time"?😉 ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632/9 "2011-09-26T05:07:54Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > apologies; when it comes to periods, i can only find the humor… Lest i go mad. > > Okay, seriously, it’s just not all that pronounced. She’s certainly miserable and cranky, so i just try and be understanding, and keep my usual obnoxiousness to a minimum. > > **but i do punch a stuffed vagina doll to release my pent up frustrations. When not in use, it looks great in the curio cabinet**. lol:d:d ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632/10 "2011-09-26T10:23:58Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Seriously, however, you just keep a sense of humor, don’t take it personally, and love her more. Yep, for any mood swings. And she does the same for mine. In essence, when your honey is in a less than wonderful mood, that’s a good time to be thinking about what you can do for her, rather than about what you want. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632/11 "2011-09-26T10:49:45Z")
Me and my beloved have discussed this issue during a non-moody phase, and we’ve agreed that as long as she tells me it’s because she’s hormonal I will happily cope with the snarls and flying crockery. The difficulties tend to be when I can’t be sure if I’ve done something that geniunely warrents an ear-bashing, or whether it’s just because I happen to be the nearest male at that particular time. It does not help a situation if I dismiss a legitimate concern with “you hormonal again, dear?” when actually I’ve used up the last loo roll again. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632/12 "2011-09-26T12:00:03Z")
Meh. Wait twenty-five years or so and it’s not an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632/13 "2011-09-26T12:40:13Z")
> [@indian](#): > > .. with the monthly mood swings of your wives? Everyone has their bad days/moments. Part of a relationship is to realize this and to make the best possible effort to deal with it. This doesn’t mean that she gets a complete pass if things are really out of whack - but some latitude is expected. I’m moody and irritable _at least_ once a month and it has nothing to do with hormones. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632/14 "2011-09-26T13:05:57Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > But I do punch a stuffed vagina doll to release my pent up frustrations. When not in use, it looks great in the curio cabinet. I keep mine (several of them actually) in my humidor. Helps to display the collection. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632/15 "2011-09-26T14:05:38Z")
Hide Serious answer. Give her lots of space. Stay out of her way. Don’t ask any questions. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632/16 "2011-09-26T14:28:39Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > Hide > > Serious answer. > > Give her lots of space. Stay out of her way. Don’t ask any questions. My sentiments exactly. As a wise man once said, a PMSing woman is like a big tire fire: any attempt to put it out or get it under control will just make it worse. So find yourself a hobby that requires extensive amounts of time in the garage by yourself (rebuilding old cars, for example), make sure you have a fridge full of beer on hand, and just wait it out. Let it burn. Incedently, my wife of almost 12 years never had PMS until last year, when it hit with a vengeance. I was NOT prepared. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632/17 "2011-09-26T14:35:31Z")
_I_ say PMS is not carte blanche to be a jerk to your loved one and your other half. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632/18 "2011-09-26T14:39:02Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > _I_ say PMS is not carte blanche to be a jerk to your loved one and your other half. It’s not, but as a severe PMS sufferer I can tell you that a lot of times you only realize your jerkishness in retrospect. It all seems so totally logical and justified in the moment. When I realize that it’s approaching that time, I have my husband lock me up preemptively like a wolfman, for the protection of myself and those around me. OK, not really, but the thought has occurred to me. Usually I just give him fair warning that I’m feeling out of sorts, and I go off and hide by myself for a while until I’m feeling better again. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632/19 "2011-09-26T14:40:49Z")
The monthly mood swings improved significantly when I began paying the mortgage on time. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632/20 "2011-09-26T14:42:34Z")
> [@indian](#): > > So that one week is the" leave her alone time"?😉 If only. No, “leaving her alone” is usually not an option. > [@Meatros](#): > > I’m moody and irritable _at least_ once a month and it has nothing to do with hormones. It doesn’t matter how moody or irritable I am, I do not let it affect the people around me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/husbands-how-do-you-cope/597632.md?page=2)