[grellis]

I have yet to meet a guy who wants a wife--a lifelong mate--just to cook, clean, and take care of them. Such a man is so obscurely rare I would dub him unique.

I believe that MOST men want a woman who is kind, a woman who is intelligent (or sensible), a woman who shares his interests...if he is fortunate enough to meet that woman and she WANTS to cook, clean, and take care of him...well, where is the problem? These are not bad things. I do the bulk of the housework, including taking out the trash and mowing the lawn, as well as the typical "housewife" chores--the cooking, the cleaning, the laundry, being the primary caregiver to our children. I take care of our finances. I write the thank-you cards. I push the vacuum and scrub the toilets. I am a willing partner in the biblical sense (wink). I do not ever look upon these things as drudgery. I do them because I love my husband and I love our family. Do you want to know what I get in return?

I get a nice house and a new van. I get the occasional bit of sparkly for my wrist or neckline. I get control of the remote (unless there is a Tigers game on, but I can live with that). I get lots of stuff...but its not about the stuff.

I get a best friend and a devoted lover. I get a kind man who draws a nice, hot bath for me when he knows, without my saying, that I have had a tough day. I get to hang out with someone who likes to go for hikes, loves to play Scrabble, rummy, and Trivial Pursuit. I get someone who is willing to put up with my stubborn streak and my Neil Diamond/Barry Manilow obsessions (FWIW, I put up with ABBA and the Bee Gees).

What I get is the sun, the moon and the stars.

Happy (early) Valentines Day, Ash!

[AppyPappy]

Bad news. Here's the list of what men want:

Good sex
Comfortable shoes
A warm place to take a dump

That's pretty much it. And at some point, #1 gets tossed out.

[Gabz]

Sigh.................

[BibChr]

What a blessed man your husband is.

Dan

[GBA]

Wow...sounds like a really nice way to live. Thanks for the post.

[Gabz]

I know exactly what you're talking about. My husband is also my best friend. He married a strong career woman and knew exactly what he was doing..........and it matters not that I have switched careers.....I ditched the office for motherhood.......I'm still a strong woman, just with a different job description.

We are very happy with our life.

[diamond6]

Oh.........I love your post!!! I have a lot in common with you.

[BibChr]

For whatever it's worth, or whatever use can be made of it, here are a few words of wisdom from the other side of the aisle:

1. The bitterest, angriest, most unhappy women I've ever met are the women who've succeeded in "winning" over against their husbands — i.e. beating them. They got what they want, but what they want isn't what they need. However, they won't admit the fact. So, they just get angrier and more miserable, and the cycle repeats.

   NOTE: the following two points assume even a half-decent man, which I fully realize is not always the case.

2. There's an unbreachable chasm between winning and being winsome. "A gracious woman retains honor" (Proverbs 11:16a). If you beat your husband, you lose. If you win him, you both win. Win the man, not the argument. Beat the man, lose everything. "The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands" (Proverbs 14:1).
3. I say this with tongue in cheek, yet with serious intent: do you want to kill your husband? Here's how to do it. Dedicate yourself to giving him consistent, sincere, heartfelt praise. Do it equally in public and in private. Let him know you think he's just the greatest thing on wheels, that you appreciate him, you admire him, you're grateful for him, and no other man can hold a candle to him. Tell him you think there's no limit to what he can do, and assure him you support him 100%. If you must correct him, do it pointedly but reluctantly, kindly and respectfully.

   That man will then kill himself in seeking to live up to your praise.

Dan

[Caipirabob]

(FWIW, I put up with ABBA and the Bee Gees)

We all have our cross to bear - lol!

Great post. Lucky man.