Why vandalizing a man’s car is equivalent to insulting his mother

There are many problems in life and simply because some else is smiling does not mean he is not mad at something or unhappy. Similarly, in relationships there are many challenges. Roses come with thorns, but they smell just as good.

Recently, I came across a report where a woman upon discovering that she had been ‘demoted’ by her husband to a smaller house in a less than plush neighbourhood so that he could afford to make wife number two the main woman made her go berserk. They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. On discovering that her man was ‘live’ with another woman in high noon, the woman went bananas. She stormed the compound, found her husband’s car parked and proceeded to bang the door.

Of course, the man would be a fool to open the door at that particular time, irrespective of whether he was live or not. With nowhere to wage her frustrations, she descended on the family car. She was meticulous at times, it looked like she could have interned at a local garage. She started with the headlamps, then proceeded to the indicators, punctured all the wheels before going for the windscreen the show stopper. Now, let this be a caveat emptor to all the women out. Regardless of your differences with your hubby or your sponsor, never ever touch his car. Unless you are hell-bent on titling the divorce papers as ‘irreconcilable differences’ stay clear of the car. You can break the TV, you may kill the house pet, and you may even take it out on social media, as a respected professional once did, but never touch his car.

There are two things you do not want to mess with when dealing with a man, I’m talking of an ordinary African adult here. Do not mention his mother in vain and do not vandalise his car. A man would be willing to cede some ground and admit a certain level of culpability when you have busted him in a compromising position with another woman. But as a woman, you should build up your arsenal by seeking to corner him to agree things he would not conceded to during peace time. But to rein havoc on his car, the whole argument changes from if he is guilty to ‘why did you damage the car’.

I will give you free advice here. If you are having challenges in your relationship, and challenges here mean trusting your man, not erectile dysfunction, work covertly to build up as much evidence as you can gather. So that when you finally table the evidence the poor soul will be sounding like that nursery rhyme ‘Jonny Jonny...yes papa...eating sugar...no papa...show me your hands...”. For him to negotiate himself out the trouble, he can give you a piece of the clouds that hang over the family apartment. But to stone his car the same way ancient religion used to stone suspected prostitutes is a no-no!