How could I have been so blind?' or 'Why did nobody tell me?' These are just two of the most common reactions from people who thought they were doing the best for their marriage, but discovered they'd actually been undermining their own efforts.
Always putting the children first, 100% agree. It's like when the airplane loses cabin pressure, you should do your own oxygen mask first. Or so I hear. :)
Also, kids are really good at gaming their parents against each other.
Take the oxygen mask advise seriously, please. Too little oxygen will seriously impair your cognition, usually in well under a minute. You will literally be too stupid to know what to do anymore and why, which puts you and your dependents in mortal danger.
I’m a woman and my male partner does almost all of these things. Yes, they are all problematic and desperately frustrating, but why does the article writer assume these are female behaviors???
Assuming your question isn't rhetorical, it's because the author likely experiences life, the world around, them, and their clients through a bias, their male gaze, and hasn't caught themselves in it, been called out for it, or addressed it. The idea of male gaze, female gaze etc is frequently examined and discussed in media classes.
When I married at age 30 in 1978, I had hardly any regular previous sex life. We had a very joyous relationship. For one month, that is, until my appendix ruptured and I lost 17 pounds in 17 days in the hospital from paritonitis.
"Peritonitis is a redness and swelling (inflammation) of the lining of your belly or abdomen. This lining is called the peritoneum. It is often caused by an infection from a hole in the bowel or a burst appendix. You must seek medical care right away." The doctors said I had a 40% chance of surviving. I couldn't return to my receptionist job at the bank for three months because it hurt to walk.
Our doctor had to coach my husband to take it real easy with me and give me time. Six months later, I could have normal sex, but I had to compromise with my husband's needs: he wanted a dozen nights a week; I wanted two and a half. So I won, or I would have died from chronic paritonitis. My husband became a great philosopher and I his devoted wife until he died 37 years later at 87. A word to the wise.
These are good, sound words. Changing just the words you use with each other can be so helpful. Taking time for each other as a couple, not using it always to talk about your children, is important. For years my husband and I met for a Friday lunch. I treasure those times.
I love this Bonnie - Friday lunch sounds perfect. You would have had the end-of-the-week celebratory vibe but not the pressure of babysitters, feeling exhausted etc.
“Why [critiquing your partner’s behavior] seems a good idea: surely you shouldn't bite your tongue all the time, and doesn’t your partner want to be their best self?”
Jesus, are we still learning this? You cannot “fix” your boyfriend/male partner/husband. You cannot. Trying to do that says one thing: that guy is an unsatisfactory dude. For you. Learn it, live it, and then you can love him.
It is not a who’s right issue. It is an issue of different human beings, likely fully developed with their own personalities and behaviors and only marginally likely to change other than in the very long run and only because YOU model a certain behavior and he learns it’s value and then adopts it.
Early in a relationship you will very likely see the guy at his base. If he, with all his peccadillos, is not something you can live with then do NOT try. You can even be honest and tell him why, even if those issues are seen as petty. They might be but if they matter to you, they are not petty to you. He should have a shot at hearing all that - maybe he reevaluates his own behavior. Maybe not. But do not hang on to him thinking you can fix him later.
This issue is like the sex frequency issue. If you and your guy are lighting up the flames of physical passion nearly daily to several times a week early in a relationship you ought to expect that to continue into the indefinite future. That's male behavior, deeply connected to his genes. Otherwise a woman might be falling into the “use sex to gain intimacy” trap. It won’t work. It will lead to unhappiness and infidelity.
Be honest - if your prospective partner has “issues” you want tofix, tell him. Early. But don’t expect him to stick around much longer if it’s a laundry list. YOU need to decide whether you love him as and for who and what he is.
I could write a similar rant for men who might have concerns about their female partner/GF/wife. But men aren't gonna try to "fix" their females intimates. So I'm not sure what such a rant will mean. Women will generally ask for feedback, though rarely in a direct way. You can provide it buys, but fair warning. It needs to come from the woman asking for it and you need to seek clarificant, e.g, "Are you asking whether I like your new hairstyle?" Before actually commenting on a new doo other than "Hey your hair is different, it is attractive, and I'd love to hug you and give you a big kiss." for something like that. She'll tell you if she wants comment and you'll learn how much h0onesty she want and how to deliver that.
After recently becoming an empty-nester, taking time to cultivate self while cultivating our children is extremely important. My partner and I focused on the kids so much that now we are trying to figure out our most basic likes: food, clothes, ideas, music, etc. It is amazing how much focusing on the lives of others can shift your perception of self and the world around you.
Thank you for the comment, Sean. Very best of luck getting to know each other again. You've identified one of the big challenges of midlife I think. But often lots of joy there as well.
My ex used to like to get up at 5AM, and I liked to get up at 8AM, and someone suggested getting up at 6:30AM. This is the perfect example of the wrong kind of compromise. It means that 100% of the time, she would get up 1 1/2 hours too late, and I would get up 1 1/2 hours too early, guaranteeing that both of us would be miserable.
Your idea might work if the frequency is 3 days and 5 days, but what if the difference is 3 days and 2 weeks? What if it’s 3 days and never? I just don’t think compromises like this are practical—at least they weren’t for me.
As for the person with the lower sex drive controlling sex in the relationship, that’s a tough one. If anyone figures that one out, spread the word, and then report to the appropriate Nobel committee for your prize.
Always putting the children first, 100% agree. It's like when the airplane loses cabin pressure, you should do your own oxygen mask first. Or so I hear. :)
Also, kids are really good at gaming their parents against each other.
Take the oxygen mask advise seriously, please. Too little oxygen will seriously impair your cognition, usually in well under a minute. You will literally be too stupid to know what to do anymore and why, which puts you and your dependents in mortal danger.
I’m a woman and my male partner does almost all of these things. Yes, they are all problematic and desperately frustrating, but why does the article writer assume these are female behaviors???
Assuming your question isn't rhetorical, it's because the author likely experiences life, the world around, them, and their clients through a bias, their male gaze, and hasn't caught themselves in it, been called out for it, or addressed it. The idea of male gaze, female gaze etc is frequently examined and discussed in media classes.
Great insights @themeaningfullife! Thanks for putting this out. My aha moment was 'Pointing out mistakes'
thank you, so glad it was useful.
When I married at age 30 in 1978, I had hardly any regular previous sex life. We had a very joyous relationship. For one month, that is, until my appendix ruptured and I lost 17 pounds in 17 days in the hospital from paritonitis.
"Peritonitis is a redness and swelling (inflammation) of the lining of your belly or abdomen. This lining is called the peritoneum. It is often caused by an infection from a hole in the bowel or a burst appendix. You must seek medical care right away." The doctors said I had a 40% chance of surviving. I couldn't return to my receptionist job at the bank for three months because it hurt to walk.
Our doctor had to coach my husband to take it real easy with me and give me time. Six months later, I could have normal sex, but I had to compromise with my husband's needs: he wanted a dozen nights a week; I wanted two and a half. So I won, or I would have died from chronic paritonitis. My husband became a great philosopher and I his devoted wife until he died 37 years later at 87. A word to the wise.
These are good, sound words. Changing just the words you use with each other can be so helpful. Taking time for each other as a couple, not using it always to talk about your children, is important. For years my husband and I met for a Friday lunch. I treasure those times.
I love this Bonnie - Friday lunch sounds perfect. You would have had the end-of-the-week celebratory vibe but not the pressure of babysitters, feeling exhausted etc.
“Why [critiquing your partner’s behavior] seems a good idea: surely you shouldn't bite your tongue all the time, and doesn’t your partner want to be their best self?”
Jesus, are we still learning this? You cannot “fix” your boyfriend/male partner/husband. You cannot. Trying to do that says one thing: that guy is an unsatisfactory dude. For you. Learn it, live it, and then you can love him.
It is not a who’s right issue. It is an issue of different human beings, likely fully developed with their own personalities and behaviors and only marginally likely to change other than in the very long run and only because YOU model a certain behavior and he learns it’s value and then adopts it.
Early in a relationship you will very likely see the guy at his base. If he, with all his peccadillos, is not something you can live with then do NOT try. You can even be honest and tell him why, even if those issues are seen as petty. They might be but if they matter to you, they are not petty to you. He should have a shot at hearing all that - maybe he reevaluates his own behavior. Maybe not. But do not hang on to him thinking you can fix him later.
This issue is like the sex frequency issue. If you and your guy are lighting up the flames of physical passion nearly daily to several times a week early in a relationship you ought to expect that to continue into the indefinite future. That's male behavior, deeply connected to his genes. Otherwise a woman might be falling into the “use sex to gain intimacy” trap. It won’t work. It will lead to unhappiness and infidelity.
Be honest - if your prospective partner has “issues” you want tofix, tell him. Early. But don’t expect him to stick around much longer if it’s a laundry list. YOU need to decide whether you love him as and for who and what he is.
I could write a similar rant for men who might have concerns about their female partner/GF/wife. But men aren't gonna try to "fix" their females intimates. So I'm not sure what such a rant will mean. Women will generally ask for feedback, though rarely in a direct way. You can provide it buys, but fair warning. It needs to come from the woman asking for it and you need to seek clarificant, e.g, "Are you asking whether I like your new hairstyle?" Before actually commenting on a new doo other than "Hey your hair is different, it is attractive, and I'd love to hug you and give you a big kiss." for something like that. She'll tell you if she wants comment and you'll learn how much h0onesty she want and how to deliver that.
Great insights, thanks for putting this out @themeaningfulife, my aha moment was' pointing out mistakes'
Great insights, thanks for putting this out @themeaningfulife, my aha moment was' pointing out mistakes'
After recently becoming an empty-nester, taking time to cultivate self while cultivating our children is extremely important. My partner and I focused on the kids so much that now we are trying to figure out our most basic likes: food, clothes, ideas, music, etc. It is amazing how much focusing on the lives of others can shift your perception of self and the world around you.
Thanks for the tips.
Thank you for the comment, Sean. Very best of luck getting to know each other again. You've identified one of the big challenges of midlife I think. But often lots of joy there as well.
My ex used to like to get up at 5AM, and I liked to get up at 8AM, and someone suggested getting up at 6:30AM. This is the perfect example of the wrong kind of compromise. It means that 100% of the time, she would get up 1 1/2 hours too late, and I would get up 1 1/2 hours too early, guaranteeing that both of us would be miserable.
Your idea might work if the frequency is 3 days and 5 days, but what if the difference is 3 days and 2 weeks? What if it’s 3 days and never? I just don’t think compromises like this are practical—at least they weren’t for me.
As for the person with the lower sex drive controlling sex in the relationship, that’s a tough one. If anyone figures that one out, spread the word, and then report to the appropriate Nobel committee for your prize.