Why Communication Is Important

In every marriage book there is a section, if not a chapter, on communication issues.
Whole books have been written on the subject.
Anyone who has been married for more than a hour knows without a shadow of a doubt-
Communication is essential for a healthy marriage.
Every author has his or her own slant on why communication is important.
And they are most likely all right.
But there are a few reasons for it's importance that I have never read in a book.
Practical, every day, going about life reasons that I can tell you, should be discussed.
It could save a lot of problems.
Not that I'd know these things first hand, mind you.

Going Deeper Than The Books- Why Communication?

Toothbrushes-
When it comes time to change out toothbrushes and get new ones, it is a good idea, yea a very wise idea, to make sure each spouse is fully aware of which color belongs to whom. The sooner the better. This is not a conversation to be had 2 weeks into the new toothbrushes. Do not assume which one you have ownership of. DO NOT.

Shopping-
Vincent does about half of the shopping. It is common for him to go by the store before coming home. It is also common for me to go shopping when he's gone.
If communication is not occurring well here we have been known to both get something that we have needed. The problem really occurs when that item is on sale and we both get more than one. Then we end of with a crazy amount of whatever it is. Thankfully it's things we need anyway or we wouldn't be buying it but it gets harder to store stuff when you have like 6 of things.
Also in shopping it is wise to make sure everyone knows just who is getting what and when and then sticking to the plan.
When it comes to purchases that need to be made, make sure someone is designated to get it. That way you don't run into "I thought you were going to get that."
That can be really bad. You can run out of things you don't want to run out of.
Like toilet paper.

Coffee-
Both of us like coffee first thing in the morning. Like most normal people.
But if a person is not pre designated to make the coffee, breakfast can be done and you will both be staring at each other with a glazed look, both wondering to yourself when the coffee will be done and why it's taking so long. Then, when one or the other can no longer take it, a stomping into the kitchen will reveal that no one has made the coffee. Blame is placed. Both are sad.
This is especially bad because neither has caffeine in them to make things manageable.

Packing for a trip-
When going on a trip, it is advisable to do your own packing 100% of the time. That way there can be no confusion. There should be no deviation from this.
When a load of laundry must be done last minute it is still advisable to make sure for yourself that what you need gets packed. Do not assume your spouse is going to be thoughtful or smart enough to take care of that for you.
Things get left behind that way. Things you will wish you had the next morning when you shower.
Underwear for example.

Shutting the door-
You wouldn't think you would need much communication on this. Think again.
When you are leaving the house together and then going in separate directions, please specify "I've got the door" or some such thing.
If not, the one coming home will have assumed the door was shut by the last one leaving while the other person (conveniently not home) will have assumed you were going back in the house before leaving and has left the door open in case you had your hands full.
Then the one coming home will come home when it is dark and she is alone and the door will be wide open but she won't know its your fault and will assume the worse and will think someone is or has been in your house when they weren't invited and then fear will make it hard for her to go in her own home and once she does she will spend much time checking all the nooks and crannies and wondering what she would do if she actually found something or someone but praise the Lord found no one was there and it was only because of a lack of communication that this happened.

Another area of door shutting that needs to be discussed-
Shutting the garage door at night-
If there is not a pre arrangement on who will shut the door before bed, you go back to the "I thought you were going to do that" and the next morning you open the house door that leads to the garage, assuming the garage is all shut up. Since you assume the garage door is shut you have on pjs that shouldn't be seen by the world. Then you realize you CAN be seen by the world because the door is wide open.
The door will be slammed.
And then one will think...animals. Did animals get in here last night?
And then that one will not want to go to the car later when a run to the post office must be made because one might imagine there is a skunk or some other nasty rodent hiding under the car, ready to pounce.

One last area that is very important. Vital to the health in fact.
Hi, Honey, I'm home!-
When a spouse is away at work. Please make sure the other spouse knows when you will be arriving home. Do not show up at home early without a little heads-up.
And for Pete's sake, don't go the bathroom before making your presence known.
Why?
Well because this is the stuff of heart attacks.
The spouse at home, unsuspecting and in need of "taking care of a little business" will bepop it into the bathroom, not thinking about the fact the door is shut and will find someone on the toilet. As a result, innocent spouse will no longer have need of that bathroom. Although an ambulance might need to be called.
I quick "I'm home!" would have avoided this. Just sayin.'

In conclusion-
Communication. Learn it.
and
Assume nothing.