My husband retired recently. He doesn't seem to realize how complicated it can be to run a household, for instance that if I look like I'm just standing in front of the stove, I am turning fried chicken, watching for water to boil, mentally going through vegetable choices and worrying about my mother.

So he steps into the kitchen and starts a sentence without bothering to let me know he's there or to signal that he's going to talk and without putting any energy into the first few words. It's

mumble mumble mumble the front door. or
mumble mumble mumble what the heck our checking account.

I have come up with the formula "What about the front door?" etc so he knows to repeat it all.

I've explained to him what the problem is, but it doesn't seem to help.