Excuse me?

We were hanging out at her house, playing a game, when she got home from a late shift at work. As she grabbed a snack and went into the cutlery drawer, she found something that didn't belong in there and commented, "Ah, I see someone's been 'helping'." I answered, "Yes, and you're glad we've been helping," to which she said, "Oh yeah, I love finding surprises in my cupboards." And I said, "And you also love coming home to a kitchen that's clean and not full of dirty dishes."

Earlier that evening, after we had finished supper, I had unloaded her dishwasher, refilled it with all the dirty dishes (both from the meal and ones that had been lying around the kitchen), washed all the dishes that didn't seem suited for the dishwasher (several meals worth, more than what we had used that night), put away those dishes, wiped all the counters , and swept the floor. I had the help of one friend, but meanwhile all the guys, including her husband, played RockBand in the next room.

I didn't mind doing it at all. I didn't want to play with them, and it felt good to make things clean. But it didn't feel good to hear complaints about my efforts when I felt like thanks would have been more appropriate.

I am seeing that I desire acknowledgement and gratitude for what I do. I guess I need to learn that that may not always be forthcoming and be okay with that.

Anyway.

In the future, Friend, should I just leave the mess so that I don't put anything in the wrong spot? Would you prefer that?