For fun: Are you High or Low Maintenance?

[alien_host]

yet another poll coming....

[c&j04]

Low maintenance.
Bed to car 25 minutes max.

[hillview]

Low maintenance.
Bed to car 25 minutes max.
:yeahthat:

Physically low: I don't do my hair, I don't wear make up, I usually throw on whatever

Emotionally low to medium: I can get annoyed if I feel like I am being taken advantage of or not being cared for well; usually low in terms of whatever is fine and DH and I don't really fight

I do like nice clothes for work and to go on trips but neither is a deal breaker for me if we didn't have the money to do that :)
/hillary

[AnnieW625]

Physically: medium, I prefer to blow dry my hair on the days I wash it (every other day), wear makeup every day to work, and usually don't leave the house without mascara on unless I am going to work out. I don't not go to the mall in anything less than jeans with no holes, and nice tee shirt, or tank top and cardigan.

Emotional: pretty low key. I take things in stride for the most part.

Financial: low key also, as long as we have enough money to pay the bills I am happy. We don't have to go on trips every year, and I don't need super expensive jewelry or designer clothing.

[LMPC]

I voted "The worst kind" because DH would say I was high maintenance....he has NO idea what HM really looks like. I assure him that it is not someone who rolls out of bed in the morning and is out the door in 30 minutes. Men!

[gatorsmom]

At this point in my life I have to be low maintenance. There is not enough time in our day for me to be high maintenance.

But, you better bet, when the youngest ones head off to college, I"m go BACK into high maintenance again!

[momm]

Very very low maintenance, physically, financially.
Emotionally - I've been very emotional throughout my pregnancy.. but not to the point of fighting, just to the point of being near tears/ in tears a lot. But it's usually short lived and I don't expect anything from DH during these phases.

So I voted low

[kijip]

Physically- low maintenance for everyone but me (I work out a lot so that takes a lot of time) but I have about 10 articles of clothing and wear sunscreen and lip gloss only. So I actually can be up and out of the house, with shower and hair in 15-20 minutes. I can be out of the house in 5 minutes (not factoring in kids) if it's a no washing my hair day.

Emotionally/Intellectually- I am a mix of low and very high. I am pretty funny and laid back about a lot of things but I take some things very seriously and tend to over analyze things. I am also highly self critical, and that bleeds into my closest relationships though I have done a lot of work to be less critical overall. I am, like everyone, a work in progress.

[SammyeGail]

I put other, so I'll explain :D.

Low Maintenance on hair and make-up. I prefer clothes that are comfy, yet cute and stylist. No heels.

High Maintenance Health wise, unfortunately. I have Hashimoto's and Addison's Disease, both of which have horrible symptoms. The past 2 years have sucked, the last year has been horrendous.

Emotionally: mixed feelings. There are symptoms of the medical conditions, side effects of medications, I have been thru alot and will go thru more. As soon as I am well enough to drive the hour and back to the city to see a therapist, I'm going.

I can't do it now, but I liked to make myself presentable. I had a fairly set routine so it didn't take long. Big rollers in hair to give it body, basic make-up (no eyeliner), mid-range clothing, what fit and flattered me the most. Rollers out of hair, brushed out and some hair sculpture wax to give it texture. (no, I didn't have 'big hair' lol!) Other times I would just straighten it with a flat iron. The last time I had my hair professionally cut was May of 09 :bag.

[sste]

High. Very High. So high that I think this whole high-maintenance thing is a man-created shaming technique to encourage/shame women into settling for less!!!

[Indianamom2]

I'm low maintenance in pretty much every way.

I always prefer to "do" my hair (wash, blow dry, quick flat iron for my current style) and put on some sort of makeup before going out. I can be ready, from shower to fully clothed for church in about 45 minutes if I'm not interrupted.

If I don't shower and have to be out the door, I pull my hair back in a headband/ponytail and do my everyday 5 min. makeup and I'm good to go.

Emotionally, I'm definitely low maintenance. I'm more like a man in that I rarely cry, and when I do it's more often because I'm physically hurt or superbly frustrated. I basically very easy to live with! :D

[HIU8]

Oh dear lord. I'm high strung and high maintenance (although I only take a total of 45 minutes to shower and dress when I get up--but I get it all done in that time). I hate that I am this way, but I am. I am the first to admit it, and DH and my friends will also agree with me.

[g-mama]

I just asked my dh and he said emotionally, somewhere in between; physically, high maintenance.

He said the worst is women who are low maintenance physically and who think that's a good thing! :bag

[WatchingThemGrow]

per DH, lol

Physical - He brings me cereal, I don't get up on time, sometimes just can't move, like to sit in the tub forever, I don't do ANYTHING for the DC in the morning until DH leaves for work. Hmmm....sounds like lazy.

Emotionally - low, pretty happy and easygoing

Financially - low maintenance, but I take a lot of effort to manage ;)

[MelissaTC]

High. Very High. So high that I think this whole high-maintenance thing is a man-created shaming technique to encourage/shame women into settling for less!!!

AMEN!!! LOL. You can guess what I am. ;)

[elektra]

I think I am very low maintenance all the way around. I just asked DH and he said that I was very low maintenance too. He even said, "I wouldn't even expect you to ask me such a question as the question itself is a bit high maintenance." ;)

DH has a very high maintenance sister, and so I am virtually no-maintenance compared to her so maybe that's why he feels that way.

[bigsis]

I used to pride myself in being low maintenance. I've changed. I'm not high maintenance---I'm too cheap to be manicured from head to toe---but I'm not low maintenance anymore. I try to look cute. I put make up on everyday. I wear earrings everyday and try to find decent clothes to wear, no more tshirt for this mama! :)

[StantonHyde]

Compared to some peers, I would be no maintenance. I like nice vacations--but we're not talking Fiji here. Looooowwww maintenance on hair and makeup. Which fits in great here.

Emotionally--I can actually isolate which is not the best thing to do. I actually do expect DH to co-parent despite his work schedule etc. I mean, since the kids really like him, it would be good if he was around them alot!

On the flip side, I have my NEEDS. Once a year--in the spring--i MUST go on a week long backpack. MUST. Cannot be missed. period. And I am an external processor--yak, yak, yak. So its either put up with my blathering or pay for a therapist!

[luckytwenty]

My DH is one of three boys (no sisters) and has no idea how low maintenance I actually am!

I only recently began wearing face makeup like foundation because I could get away without it until maybe age 33 or so--and even now that I need it, I often skip it. I don't color my hair and often don't even blowdry it. I do love CLOTHES, require eyebrow waxes monthly to avoid uni-brow and bikini waxes because we live somewhere with year round swimming pool weather, and now that I'm pregnant and have trouble reaching my toes, monthly pedicures. That being said, I think I'm pretty easygoing all in all, and not terribly demanding.

Two caveats: restaurants (I always seem to gravitate towards the more expensive choices on the menu, mainly because I love seafood and sushi but don't like chicken), and occasional Kate Spade impulse purchases. But those purchases are very, very occasional. 1-2 times a year.

(So I guess I'm in between.)

[Melaine]

I am low-maintenance physically but somewhat high-strung emotionally. Still, I think I am usually easy to live with. I think my shopping habit is really the most high-maintenance thing about me.

[arivecchi]

I used to be super HM before kids. I think I am lower maintenance now in terms of clothing, pedis, etc. but more high maintenance in terms of emotional support.

[dcmom2b3]

I think this whole high-maintenance thing is a man-created shaming technique to encourage/shame women into settling for less!!!

:yeahthat:

I voted other. In my former life, I don't think I was high-maintenance -- just single and childless with a very well-paying job, and with definite expectations of how those closest to me ought to fit into my emotional landscape. :tongue5:

Now that I'm a parent, the external stuff (clothes, hair, etc.) has changed, but my expectations of others hasn't.

[hellokitty]

I voted "The worst kind" because DH would say I was high maintenance....he has NO idea what HM really looks like. I assure him that it is not someone who rolls out of bed in the morning and is out the door in 30 minutes. Men!

:yeahthat: Really, I am pretty low maint. I am not a fru fru girl, I don't fuss over my looks or wardrobe at ALL compared to 95% of other women. It takes me 5 min tops to get ready in the morning. I also don't care about bling. I know there are some women that love to be showered with expensive gifts. Well, my DH tries to do that, but I'm not really that impressed by it. He buys me expensive jewelry often enough, and while I think it is nice, I also think it's a waste of $. I think I am DEFINITELY the minority in this dept, b/c so many women will ask me about the jewelry I am wearing and when I tell them that it was a gift from my DH, they tell me how lucky I am to have a guy who buys nice jewelry.

Emotionally, I am usually ok, but I do get grouchy when DH has been working a lot OR he has been taking advantage of a lot of, "fun" time for himself and I constantly get ditched with the kids. Really, I would say that is the worst part is that I get grouchy when I'm overworked, but honestly, who WOULDN'T be grouchy??? Male or female, if you are trapped with your kids 24/7 w/o a break you WILL get grouchy! Overall, I am pretty independent and I'm not one of those women who's really emotionally needy and helpless... sorry but I can't stand women like that!

Overall, btwn DH and myself, I would say that my DH is actually more high maint, than *I* am. I am a planner and heaven forbid, if I ask my DH what his schedule looks like the next day, he gets all huffy and puffy about it. I am a planner, and I need to know so I can plan out my day. He gets upset that he has to be held accountable to any sort of schedule and omg if HE doesn't get to have like 6+ hrs of ME time every wk, talk about bitchy... he's actually lucky that I tend to be more of a homebody and am not always ditching the kids on him to meet girlfriends.

Oh and I want to add that I think it is ironic that my DH thinks I am high maint, but when compared to his MOTHER, who is the most high maint woman I have EVER encountered, I'm the total opposite of her. So, it makes me scratch my head that he thinks I'm high maint, when his mother is like the most demanding, emotionally draining person on the face of the planet.

[smilequeen]

I put somewhere in between only because I do forgo some of the things I wish I could do for myself b/c of the kids. I am on the higher end though. Probably in every way BUT emotionally where I pretty much take care of myself and don't lean on anyone all that much (neccessity, introvert, traveling husband...)

[SnuggleBuggles]

I voted medium and dh confirmed that. I think I am across the board medium.

Beth

[BabyMine]

I am low maintenance at this point in my life because my priorities have changed. I am very easy going and rock the pony tail like no ones business.

Physically I am medium because of my chronic condition but I try not to let it interfere to much. We just work around it as best as possible.

I do have a high maintenance side. It peaks out every now and then when the planets align.

[kijip]

He said the worst is women who are low maintenance physically and who think that's a good thing! :bag

I think there's slob-low maintenance as in never ever shower and wear nothing but pjs and then there is low maintenance. I am very low on the physical stuff (other than all the time I spend working out). But I am not a slob. I don't wear make-up because I really don't need any help on my complexion and because I am not a girly sort. Maybe 4 times a year I do more than lip gloss and sunscreen after washing my face. If I wash my hair more than 2 times a week I get serious trouble with my hair. When I do wash it, it takes maybe 10-15 minutes to straighten and run a little goop through. My husband is happy as a clam.

I do have a bit of a shoe thing, which both me and my husband enjoy. Heels make a lot of things dressy but once you have them, it's not hard to put them on. :)

[dcmom2b3]

I do have a bit of a shoe thing, which both me and my husband enjoy. Heels make a lot of things dressy but once you have them, it's not hard to put them on. :)

Enjoy them Katie! And keep working out. My knees and my ortho have recently told me that my heels-wearing days are behind me. I think my 5-year workout hiatus is directly responsible for that.

[elektra]

High. Very High. So high that I think this whole high-maintenance thing is a man-created shaming technique to encourage/shame women into settling for less!!!

:yeahthat:

I voted other. In my former life, I don't think I was high-maintenance -- just single and childless with a very well-paying job, and with definite expectations of how those closest to me ought to fit into my emotional landscape. :tongue5:

Now that I'm a parent, the external stuff (clothes, hair, etc.) has changed, but my expectations of others hasn't.

Can you guys elaborate on exactly how you think you are high maintenance? I am not sure I know what you guys are getting at here, and I really want to understand because I really look up to both of you and you are making me think I am selling myself short!

I really think I am LOW maintenance. I wasn't actually focusing on the physical part, although I am low maintenance in that regard too.
Do I require emotional support from family and DH? Heck yeah! I expect love, respect, commitment from those close to me.
Do I take extra precautions for planning and safety? Well if you have read any of my posts over the past 3 years then you know my answer is yes to that too.
Can I turn on the pretty when I want to look nice? IMO, I really can!
I wouldn't call that high maintenance though. Is that what you guys are getting at?

But do I require DH to call me several times a day? No
Am I super picky about food, activities, clothes, makeup, hair on a daily basis? Nope.
Do I have serious health issues and personal problems? I would have to say yes I do. But unless I mention them, most people might not even know, and nobody needs to make accomodations for me.
These are the types of things that make me low maintenance IMO.

[dcmom2b3]

Ahhh, Grashopper. You ask such good questions . . .

Simply put, I don't think I'm either, because I reject (at least in part) the notion of the HM/LM dichotomy.

I am me. We each are who we are. (BTW, I'm not the walrus. Yet.)

My emotional needs/expectations aren't unreasonable, IMO, it's just that at this point in my life I've yet to find a partner who can acknowledge and embrace them. And I won't settle (again). As for the tangible aspect -- can I appreciate a luxurious life? Heck yeah. Can I make do with less? Heck yeah, too.

We all have wants and needs, based on who we are, and IMO the HM/LM dichotomy is a convenient way for the people on the other side of our relationships to handily catagorize and even discount our professed needs/wants, whether emotional or material

[spanannie]

HM physically/financially and relatively LM emotionally.

[sste]

Elektra, if you are naturally a low-maintenance (or I prefer independent) person I wouldn't worry that you should become more high maintenance so long as you are happy. :) I think the only problem is when people need things from their relationships that they don't feel comfortable expressing.

I guess I characterize myself as HM because I absolutely need to be the #1 priority in my DH's life. I need to be his first and foremost passion. Not exclusive, but first.

I also tend toward moodiness/anxiety and I need someone who is kind and can be supportive. And insightful. My dh is a workaholic and can be a real pita, but he is very, very kind and he is amazing at figuring out no it isn't x work thing that is really bothering you, it is y bigger, life-changing thing.

And I think I would be considered HM because of my family - - literally among my two parents, one sister, one brother there is a not a mentally/psychiatrically intact one among them. Really. And DH has pitched in with sorting out their medications, calling them on his own to check in, coordinating with their doctors.

Anyway, I worked in an all-male - - and I mean ALL-male - - environment for a while. I would hear them talk 24-7 (it is a miracle I ever got married after this). And I am 100% convinced that HM is a shaming technique employed by men to rationalize selfishness, laziness, insensitivity, and emotional availability.

[ThreeofUs]

I voted other.

I'm out of bed and into the car in 20 minutes flat, and that includes making coffee and changing a diaper.
-I don't wear makeup nowadays, but even when I did it was very light. Makeup (especially foundation) tends to make me look like a clown, even when put on by a pro. I have no idea why. I wore no makeup at my wedding (b/c DH's super-HM sister took our combined efforts to get ready) and my pictures look fantastic. I look at other pictures where I am wearing makeup and think "eeuuuwww."
-I have a limited wardrobe that works for running after my two little hurricanes.
-My hair does what it wants. It's long and curly and I drag a brush through it and that's it.
-I take a long, take-care-of-me shower once a week or so. Otherwise, I shower quickly every day. I don't do anything after rinsing my hair but tie it up in a t-shirt, so even a long shower is a 30-minute proposition.

Emotionally? I don't know. I don't think I'm high maintenance, but I do believe in getting out what needs to come out, and talking about it.

Health - definitely higher maintenance, at least to myself, tho' I try not to impose my allergies and migraines on anyone.

ETA: Asked DH, and he said very low maintenance on anything but food allergies.

[mamicka]

I guess I characterize myself as HM because I absolutely need to be the #1 priority in my DH's life. I need to be his first and foremost passion. Not exclusive, but first.

I also tend toward moodiness/anxiety and I need someone who is kind and can be supportive. And insightful.


I would descibe myself as similar to you regarding needs, but I think I'm pretty low maintenance & DH would agree. DH isn't a workaholic though, so maybe it just looks different IYKWIM.

He said the worst is women who are low maintenance physically and who think that's a good thing! :bag

Ouch. I'm definitely low maintenance & I believe it is a good thing. I'm glad one persons trash is another's treasure.

[g-mama]

Ouch. I'm definitely low maintenance & I believe it is a good thing. I'm glad one persons trash is another's treasure.

Not trash by any means, just different strokes for different folks!

My neighbor/friend who loves to go camping and fishing and wears no makeup is married to a guy who would *never* want to be married to someone like me. I'm sure he would consider me high-maintenance in a bad way, while my dh can appreciate it.

[DietCokeLover]

I am extremely low maintenance. However, I wish I had the energy, time and resources to be a little more high maintenance. But, seeing as how I don't, I guess I'll just have to be content where I am.

[elektra]

Thank you Senseis. I think I see where you are coming from now with your HM assessment or rejection of the concept altogether.

[daisymommy]

Here's a good one: I am high maintenance inside, but would never let it show, so I come off as low maintenance.

It's a result of my upbringing. my mother taught us perfect ettiquette, to always be polite, never rock the boat, bite your tongue, be peace makers. But I am a type A personality. So I will be thinking things in my head, but not let it out/let it show. Just talk to myself about how much something is bothering me. But everyone always says, "Wow, you're so low key, so content in life, nothing ruffles your feathers..." :loveeyes: I know, I know, that's not always healthy.

I'm a diva in disguise :ROTFLMAO:
I take about 45 minutes to get fully ready in the morning, which i don't think is too bad, not picky about food I'm served, happy to wear tee shirts and jeans and flip-flops, never call my DH at work...I guess I'm not too bad :)

[hillview]

And I am an external processor--yak, yak, yak. So its either put up with my blathering or pay for a therapist!

OOOH is this a real term? I need more info!
/hillary

[maestramommy]

I just asked my dh and he said emotionally, somewhere in between; physically, high maintenance.

He said the worst is women who are low maintenance physically and who think that's a good thing! :bag

:ROTFLMAO:Well, that might be me! I read your later post about the friend who loves to camp and fish. I don't fish, but I love to camp, climb and hike, and I wear lipstick and maybe powder on Sundays to church. Otherwise I don't wear makeup unless I have a performance. I dress neatly, but admittedly not fashionably. I'm not particularly girly. And your dh would probably rear back in horror if he met me:p But that's okay, my dh thinks I'm hot, and that's enough for me! Different strokes and all that:waving4:

ETA: I asked Dh last night what he thought and he said I'm LM both physically and emotionally. But we agree that when the occasion presents itself (date night, wedding, etc) I like to get all dolled up, just because it's fun.