We have a new spouse (EOAD) in our Tues. a.m. support group. This a.m. she asked, "What's with this rolling stuff? My hb takes off his pants and rolls them up; same w/shirt." Three of us chimed in: "Ours, too. Rolls clothes, napkins, towels, anything." In addition to clothes, mine rolls "John paper," Kleenex, whatever around combs, silverware, whatever.
New spouse asked, "Why." Others: "Dunno." Do any of your spouses do this? I'd never thought about it until new gal asked.
My husband rolls his pants up every night and sticks them under the desk in our bedroom. He rolls up his sweatshirt and puts it on top. He shoves his dirty socks into his shoes. Generally I just disappear the dirty ones if I get there first in the morning, and replace the rolled up clothes at shower time.
I think rolling means "plan to re-use" and balling means "done with it."
Jeff takes a shower every other day (with prompts.) I check the water temp, make sure the shampoo is easily located, and set out his clothes on the bed in easy to put on in order formation. Usually he gets it close to right, with maybe a sweatshirt backwards.
This morning I went back upstairs to find the sweatshirt on inside-out, the clean t-shirt balled up and tossed into a corner, and shoes and socks in several different locations. So, for some reason, the clean t-shirt was deemed "dirty" and balled/tossed rather than rolled.
My DH doesn't roll his stuff but it has to be folded precisely Everything has to be folded and exact. He also wraps up everything in TP or napkins. He will do that to food, money, candy, glasses..... anything that is laying out.
Did any of these husbands who roll up their clothes ever serve in the Navy? That was how we were taught to keep our clean clothes neat before placing them in our seabags -- roll them up tight and bind them on each end of the roll with "ties", which were similar to shoe laces.
My DH would roll his clothes, always put wallet in pillowcase , take my clothes out of my dresser, put them in his and many times come out of the room with one of my shirts on,good thing we wore the same size.
Amazing the things we share here. My DH has been wiping, incessantly, for about 6 months, anything, including imaginary spots on the table, his coat.. Rolls dirty clothes all neatly , one piece on the other BUT, does get it in the hamper... I am thankful for that but did wonder where that was all coming from.. I like Emily's definition... Also DH, lines up everything, catsup exactly beside the pepper and so on... Another thing I've noticed.. DH will shower and puts dirty undies back on, when ready for bed puts on clean stuff.. When I inquired:WHY" .. He said they weren't dirty enough yet... Alrighty, then...?? since all he does is nap and sit, I don't make an issue of it and the dirties can't be so bad that it'd contaminate a clean body... As we say.. We have to roll with the punches and pick out battles Hope everyone is experiencing a little bit of Spring.. Maybe that'll help us out of the doldrums.. Peggy
Gourdchipper*, my hb was in the Army. Maybe all military types rolled clothes???
Hb also lines things up, moves his hands over and around things like Monk (TV) does. I've hidden paper towels because he kept tearing sheets, folding them neatly, stacking several, putting some in his pockets. Same w/Kleenex; so it's hidden, too. Taps fingers on whatever's handy.
Yes, behaviors are fascinating and interesting to find others here w/what I call the same "quirks."
Siem never did any rolling. Now he scarcely handles his clothes, I have to do all the dressing and undressing, hanging up or throwing in the laundry (he's stage 6). He did tear whole rolls of toilet paper into pieces and put them on a neat pile (then never use them, I;m still using them). New bahavior: he is fascinated by candles right now. Will sit and stare at a burning candle for hours, so I light one for him at the table after we finish supper while I'm reading the paper. He doesn't try to mess with the fire. Usually makes for a quiet time.
My hb never in the military. He also likes folding--tp, paper towels, napkins. I think it's more of an OCD trait than something related to the past, but part of AD.
My DH sorta rolls his jeans when he takes them off (he folds them over a few times). He also folds napkins & paper towels & now I am finding them in his pockets (along with a lot of other miscellaneous items!) I was wondering why the napkins kept disappearing from the napkin holder on the table, well now I know they are ending up in his pockets. So now I am only putting out a few napkins at a time