When to dump him.

This couple might make it - if he'll just put some socks on.

I have great advice that came to me the other night while Ricardo and I were tiling. One of the many many things I love about that man is he's half of us. We simply make a great team. In life, in parenting, in home improvement.

It's really a crapshoot when you're dating and trying to decide if the guy is going to last, to deliver, to be helpful and inspiring. Typically, we hold on about 2-3 years too long. How do you know? Well, you don't. But I think we came up with a great litmus test on whether your mate will make a good husband and father when it's not all roses and cotton candy.

Simply have your boyfriend do a massive home improvement project with you. You have to work together. Maybe break something and rebuild it. That's a lot like having a kid - destroy your body to create a beautiful life. How do you spackle those stretchmarks, anyway?

The pressure, the adversity, the budget should set the pace for this research project pretty quickly. See how fast his patience wears out. Is he condescending. Does he still talk to you with respect? Or did the gloves come off and he started screaming or calling your stupid or worse? Did he take over and do it all himself because he said it would just be easier? Or did he wait til you got busy and then find the last beer in your fridge and the ball game and leave you to figure it out citing that it looked like you had it all under control. And really, how did you do?

Stick with him until the project is overwith. Please, don't tell him what you're really up to. And then, in the end, decide if it was a good project, or if he's a dillweed. Are you a dillweed? If he's a dillweed, then dump him. And move on. If it worked out, and you both worked well together, stay together. Either way, you have a good remodel to enjoy. Right?

My house has lots of successful remodels. That man treats me right, is handy, and kind. It's a perfect combo.

That's how I roll.