My partner and I live in the UK and are mid 30s
I need a sanity check. We have lived together for a while, and just bought/moved into our own house together in the last couple of weeks
To be organised, we have put together a classic kitchen first-aid kit: plasters, paracetamol, ibuprofen, a few left over prescription painkillers, lemsip sachets, rennies, the usual stuff, and put it in a little box to go on top of the cupboards
Now my partner is the **tidy and organized one**, (the person who hates clutter, wants everything organised, tidies away the tools while I’m still putting up the curtain poles, that sort of tidy) opened every single box and packet. She emptied all of them them. She poured a chaotic mix of pills, plasters, and powder sachets tstriaght into the box, creating a kind of medical junk drawer
I stood there while my jaw was on the floor, pretty sure I managed to utter something along the lines of "that’s mental"
When I tried to question her, I got *"Just pick up the pack of tablets and read what they say before taking one"*
WHAT???
I protested more and was told to *"get a grip"*
We now have a medical lucky dip! You don’t find what you want, you fish for it. I can only imagine this will make the simple task of "I’ve got a headache, I’ll take some paracetamol" into a stressfull treasurehunt without any guarantee of success
I have to say, the stress of moving has taken a bit of a toll (with both of us snapping at eash other at various times) and at this point I said I’d just make my own stash with the pills kept in their boxes for easier searching. I then left the room and went to get some space while unpacking the spare room office
Please help me understand. Tell me I’m an idiot and this is normal. Tell me I’m an asshole, or at least tell me I’m not alone?
TLDR:
She’s very organised and tidy, I’m just average
Box to hold our general household pills/plasters etc, she emptied from each box, and left all sachets and blister packs together loose in a box
I called her mental and unhelpful, stormed off to another room for a few hours
That’s not only not normal, it’s downright dangerous! I’m extremely \*dis\*organized, and I’d never toss a bunch of loose pills (even in blisters) into a box together. Too much chance for something to get mixed up! Leftover prescription painkillers used instead of an OTC painkiller could be a trip to the hospital!
Get your own box and stock it sanely. NTA.
Wait, I’m so confused. The pills are still in the packages; she didn’t open the packages of pills and now you have all these random pills, all you have to do is pick up a package and read the label?
I mean if so, Yta for freaking out and calling her mental. While I would never do it that way (my husband would!), I can see how it would save space because after a couple of doses are taken, the package takes up more room. I think you overreacted, I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. You’re probably never going to have a medical emergency that can’t handle a couple of minutes of looking. But if it stresses you that much, have your own stash.
NTA That is really aggravating and unhelpful in an emergency. I’d be fishing the boxes out of the trash to reorganize it. Or buying small baggies to separate them.
In an emergency (or any situation where you are using a first aid box), you want to be able to easily and quickly put your hands on whatever you need, not go fishing for it.
The best spin I can put on her actions was that it sounded like a good idea in her head, but she wasn’t thinking through the ramifications properly, and now she’s too embarrassed to admit it was a bad idea. I hope that’s the case, because if she still legitimately thinks that’s the best option, she’s an agent of chaos.
NTA
Tablets often have a Best Before date printed on the box – the plastic strips DO NOT. She MUST keep them in their box together with the warning leaflet so you can make sure that the “Counter Indications” are known. “Can I take these tablets when I am also taking ABC?” “Are these safe to take for pregnant women?” “Can I take these tablets on an empty stomach?” “Are these tablets safe for children under 12?”
Wipes and plasters could have their wrappings damaged by safety pins etc. especially as you are rummaging through the box trying to find what you need.