On this week’s ‘Adult’ segment, one man asked whether he should tell his wife that living with her family is driving him around the bend.
“My wife and I are putting an extension on our house at the moment,” he told Moncrieff.
“Because it’s quite a big job and our house is pretty small, we’ve had to move into my wife’s parents’ house in Dublin’s commuter belt while the work is ongoing.
“Originally, the plan was to live with them for just two months, but we’ve been here now three months, due to complications it’ll be another three months.
“I can’t take it – I like my in-laws, I really do, I just can’t put up with them and their mad ways 24 hours a day anymore.
“Also, there’s nothing to do in this suburb, it’s so dull.
“I’ve been thinking of asking my wife if she’d like to rent somewhere short term back in town for three or six months.
“I’m worried about what she’ll think though, she’s been having a ball with her family.
“Can I bring up the renting idea or am I opening a can of worms?”
Family Having Argument At Breakfast. Image: MBI / Alamy. 4 July 2013TV personality Declan Buckley said that this man was within his rights to have a discussion with his wife about this, but it would be worth considering how it will all work out in the long term.
“The bottom line is that you have to find a way to balance between what you want for your life right now and what it’s going to be in the future,” he said.
“Sometimes that – my mum’s favourite word – involves a sacrifice, and so this is a sacrifice.
“Unfortunately for you, your wife’s sacrifice involves living with her family, having a great old time, while your sacrifice involves sitting there having to listen to them.
“In a comparative sense, your sacrifice is arguable the greater sacrifice.”
However, Declan said that while this man might not care about the price, an extension isn’t cheap.
He pointed out there could be more delays down the line, and a rental might not last just three to six months.
'Bang of arrogance'
Broadcaster Barbara Scully said she thought “there was an awful bang of arrogance off this altogether”.
“He loves the in-laws, but their ‘mad ways’ - what does he mean about their mad ways?” she said.
“You know who always says that? It’s the people who don’t realise that their families have mad ways.
“I’m also wondering, he’s only now realising that suburbs are quieter than living in the city centre?”
Barbara also said it would likely take this couple over three to six months before they even found somewhere to rent in the first place.
Main image: A young couple arguing.
