Question

Joan has nearly reached the end of her rope. School was cancelled and she has been troubled by her children all day. Her environmental action group (which had to meet at her house since she couldn’t get a sitter) had a long and frustrating afternoon meeting.

Tom has been looking forward all day to relaxing at home and having a leisurely drink with Joan. His subordinates have been remarkably inept in carrying out an important assignment, and the blame is put on him. One of Tom’s best friends at work is going to get fired, and now he is thinking of quitting his job as well. He arrives home, looks around at the noise and disorderliness, and snaps at Joan: “With nothing else to do all day long, I can’t understand how you can be such a sloppy housekeeper!”

Assume that you are Joan, and rank the following responses in order of your preference for them, marking your most preferred response as 1, and so on.

___ 1. “Well, why don’t we clean up together if it makes you so uptight?”

___ 2. “I’d be neater if you acted more like a real father and took the kids off my hands every once in a while.”

___ 3. “Did you have a hard day at the office, dear?”

___ 4. (Say nothing; assume it will all blow over.)

___ 5. “I get angry when you accuse me unfairly; I’ve had as rough a day as you have. I think it’s time we discussed sharing household responsibilities more.”

___ 6. “If that’s the nicest thing you can say, I’m leaving! I’ll be next door at Sharon’s until you cool off.”

___ 7. “Give me another 10 minutes and it will be all cleaned up.”

___ 8. “Timmy! Will you get off that floor and wash your filthy hands before dinner?”

Answer 1

2. I'd be neater if you ......

5.I get angry.....

6.If that is the nicest .......

1.well ,why don't we .....

7. Give me......

8.Timmy! Will you get....

3.Did you have......

4. Say nothing......