She Says Nothing Would Fall Apart If She Left for a Week. Here’s How Their Household Actually Works

Michelle English lives with her husband in a manufactured home they own in a small Colorado town. There are technically two people in the household, although Michelle makes it pretty clear there’s a third member who matters quite a bit: the dog is the center of their world.

Her husband earns most of the household income and works outside the home, sometimes until 11 at night. Michelle usually stays up waiting for him and goes to bed after he gets home. They manage to eat dinner together about three nights a week, usually in the living room in front of the TV.

The work around the house is divided, but not evenly down the middle. Michelle does most of the cooking and laundry and handles the household finances. Her husband takes care of repairs, maintenance and the yard. They split the dishes, cleaning and grocery shopping.

Michelle considers money management one of the things she does particularly well. Her explanation is simple: she knows where the money is going, and nothing disappears.

Their home has a few small details that make it distinctly theirs. The refrigerator is covered with photos, poems and reminders. Colored lights stay on at night. And there is one house rule everybody knows: no shoes on the furniture.

It’s a very different household from the one Michelle grew up in. She remembers different colors, different furniture arrangements and different food, but the bigger difference seems to be the atmosphere. She grew up around anger and control and was determined not to recreate that in her own home.

She describes the life she and her husband have built instead as “very laid back.”

That doesn’t mean everything runs perfectly. When asked what they argue about most, Michelle has a short answer: her husband doesn’t listen. She also admits the house isn’t cleaned nearly as often as other people might assume.

And when asked what they spend money on that other people might consider wasteful, there’s no attempt to dress up the answer.

Booze and marijuana.

Still, Michelle doesn’t identify some major household regret she’d go back and fix. She doesn’t think anything would fall apart if she disappeared for a week, either.

It’s a small household with late work nights, dinners in front of the television, colored lights after dark, a refrigerator covered in pieces of their life and a dog occupying a very large place in a two-person home.

What’s on your fridge door right now?

Photos, poems and reminders

Who Does What Around the House?

What’s one thing about running your household that you think you do particularly well?

The money. No one is stealing anything.

Walk me through a normal weekday evening in your household.

Husband is often working till eleven. I usually wait for him. Go to bed after he gets home.

Where does your household spend the most time together?

Living room.

Is there a room or space in your home you barely use?

No.

What’s one thing your household does that other people might find strange?

Always have colored lights at night.

What’s one thing you wish you’d done differently?

Nothinng.

What’s the one house rule everyone in your household knows?

No shoes on the furniture.

Is there something you or your household spends money on other people would think wasteful?

Booze and Marijuana.

What would fall apart if you left for a week?

Nothing.

What do you argue about the most?

Husband doesn’t listen.

How similar is your household to the one you grew up in?

Very different.

What’s the biggest difference?

Colors, furniture, arrangement and food.

What did you swear you’d never do that your parents did?

Be so angry and controlling.

Anything else you want to tell me?

We have a very laid back life. Our dog is the center of our world.

What’s something about your household you wouldn’t normally admit?

Don’t want people to know we don’t clean as much as they think.