The Difference Between Men and Women

Although I know that there are many, many differences between men and women, I thought I would point out one that I observed first hand this weekend.

My wife and I do our best to split up household responsibilities equally, and as part of that, I have been doing all the grocery shopping for the past several months.  My goal when I enter the grocery store is to never stop moving forward until I reach the check out aisle.  I go in with a list, knowing exactly where every thing is, and start moving.  When I find what I need, I slow down, grab it, put it in the cart, and resume my normal blistering pace.  Ideally, I would continue this momentum all the way out to the car in the parking lot, but I am usually held up at the check out aisle.  

Average time I spend in the grocery store:  15 minutes

This past weekend, my wife decided we should do the grocery shopping together.  Needless to say, it took a little longer.  As a matter of fact, we spent more time looking over lunch meat, than I usually spend in the grocery store all together--mind you, my wife finally decided that she didn't want to buy lunch meat since she doesn't like it.  We somehow walked away spending the same amount of money, yet taking three times as long.

Average time I spend in the grocery store with my wife:  Let me put it this way.  When we walked in, the electronics department was starting the movie "Titanic".  When we left, the credits were rolling.

When I go to the store, I base most of my decisions on how close an item is to me, and how crowded a particular aisle is.  Too many people in the bread aisle?  Sorry honey.  No sandwiches this week.

When my wife goes to the grocery store, she bases her decisions on how much an item costs per unit, calories per serving, and how much of her recommended dose of vitamin C is in an item.

Now to be fair, we do have better and healthier food at home this week then most.  But to prove that I am really fair, here is my wife and what she has to say on the matter...

M here.  Yes, B has been wonderful about picking up the groceries the last couple of months.  Now before you ladies start knocking on the door trying to snatch away my hubby, there is a reason I decided that we should shop together this week.  As much as I love together time, grocery shopping is not one of those fun things for the top of the list.  I decided to go this weekend, since we've been eating like college kids for the last couple of months.  You remember the days.  Nothing in the house, searching all over for that last box of Ramen.  Only the last couple of months it's been a search for the last string cheese or banana.  So yes, I wanted real food.  A real adult dinner and food to be cooked outside of the microwave.  Yes, it may have taken a bit longer (how can I be 29 and 'forget' that I don't really like or want lunch meat), but we have a house full of food.  Spending the same amount we've been using for our college like meals.  And we had a real sit down dinner last night, and have another planned for tomorrow.  No disrespect to the Ramen noodle, but I think we'll be having some 'together' shopping trips the next couple of weeks!