Asked by HypochondriacHero ·
Why does my partner keep opening the window?
Ah, the great window debate. Your partner opens it, you shiver dramatically like a Victorian orphan in a snowstorm, and somehow this becomes a battle for survival. Let's be honest, a man with a mild cold can make a sneeze sound like the opening scene of a war documentary.
The diagnosis
Your partner is clearly plotting against you. Every gust of fresh air is an assault on your fragile immune system, and you are bravely enduring the Arctic blast while sweating inside three duvets. History will record this as the Great Draught of Your Living Room, and you were the only one to survive it with dignity, mostly.
Survival tips
- Negotiate a settlement: open the window for five minutes, then close it while you sit under a blanket that is clearly not your own sweater.
- Move to the sofa, which is technically outside the blast radius of the window, and sigh heavily every time the curtains move.
- Accept that a fever may be the real reason you feel hot one minute and frozen the next, and that your partner's window policy is probably the least of your problems.
Reality check
Your partner may be opening the window because the room feels stuffy, or because you have been sweating and sneezing all over the place and fresh air helps. Fresh air is generally good for ventilation, especially when someone is ill. If you are shivering, sweating, or your temperature feels off, a warm layer and a fan or a blanket you can easily remove are better than fighting over the window.
Important disclaimer
If your symptoms are severe, last more than a week, include trouble breathing, chest pain, or a high fever that will not budge, please see a doctor or pharmacist rather than relying on dramatic sighs. And do give your partner a cup of tea or a gold star for putting up with your performance. They are the real hero of this story, and possibly the reason you are still alive.