Tips for living with a blind man

1. For goodness sake, keep the fridge/closet/toolbox organized unless you want to get up to help him find everything he's looking for. Still, you will have to call out which shelf/side of cabinet/location of said item is anyway.

2. He does not think it's funny when you hide weird stuffed animals in his underwear drawer.

3. Just go ahead and match up church/office outfits for him, including pants, a shirt, a tie, belt, and shoes. It will save you both time. Come to think of it, it may save you time even if your husband is not legally blind.

4. Realize that your children will learn very early that they can sneak treats, as long as the wrappers don't rustle, right in front of Daddy.

5. Get used to driving. Everywhere.

6. Get used to being the one who always cuts the fingernails, gives the haircuts, and removes the splinters.

7. Learn to read medical/anatomical textbooks for hour-long periods. That one may be a little specific.

8. Get with the Dept. for the Blind. They will most likely pay your husband's school tuition. (Sweet!)

9. Be confident with your looks, 'cause it's not very validating to hear a blind dude tell you you're hot.

10. Don't believe him when he says he can't do something because he's blind. Unless you've tried it with your eyes closed and you can't do it. Except for driving. Please don't try that.

11. With reference to the previous listing, just don't be upset when a red sock accidentally decides to party in a white load of laundry. He honestly didn't see it jump in.

12. Do not leave turpentine sitting on the floor in a mason jar if you also drink out of mason jars. He may think it's water. He may take a big mouthful of it. You may have to clean up paint thinner off the floor.

13. Invest in window cling stickers. Or just don't clean the glass doors. Or both. Guess why.

14. Perhaps recommend a walking-around-helmet.

15. INSIST on a helmet for when he rides his bike. Oh yes he does.

16. Do not EVER buy the small Legos. Unless you want your children to increase their vocabularies quickly in a bad way.

17. If he says he's feeling your butt to identify who you are, don't believe him.

18. Encourage others to introduce themselves over and over and over. Voices really aren't that easy to recognize and when you walk away, he will just ask who the heck that person was.

19. Remind him that even though he can't see very well, other people can. Tell him to stop "adjusting" himself in public.

20. Love him, because he needs it!