[Marie]

Heck, if what Dr. Laura states is true, then women wouldn't rely so much on their girlfriends and moms

IMHO, husbands are team-mates, partners. They provide, help, satisfy the bedroom, open the tight jars, kill the big bugs, make us laugh and give us a break with the kids. Moms, sisters, cousins and friends are there for the emotional support. Women need more than one person to fit all of your needs. As we get older we need less, but then we become the support for the young ones. Men leave the villiage to go kill something, women band together to keep the home fires burning. I know this is over simplified, but I think that this is our nature. We screw up when we try to force our men to fit out mom/sis/friend role. Most men really can't do it.

And to be honest, I don't WANT my hubby in that role. I need him to be the strong, grounded fellow that he is. The last thing I need is another emotional, deep-thinking individual in my life. I tell him everything (facts), but keep the emotions out of the way. And when I AM emotional I've made it very clear that he is to HUG, NOT talk! Listen and pat. He's relieved.

[carlo3b]

I could have saved a bittersweet lifetime, a couple of empires, and a lot of love if my women would have spent our time together wanting more of my love than my acquiescence, more of my attention than my understanding, and talking about our future plans than my feelings at that moment.. I didn't know what that meant then, and am still not at all sure if I do now!

[rintense]

Very nice post, Marie. Thank you! I don't disagree with anything you've said. I have learned much by reading this thread.

[Quix]

GREAT WISDOM THERE!

[Quix]

HUG, not talk, LISTEN

AND RUB (NOT pat).

Patting too easily communicates--OK, ALREADY, SHAPE UP SO I CAN QUIT THIS AND DO SOMETHING ELSE!