Ben* has been happily married for 19 years. He recently told me the prime reason he married his wife is because, "She was the only girl I dated who could control me."
I had no idea what he was talking about. I don't know many people, men or women, who enjoy being controlled.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I dated a lot of girls, some of them pretty seriously. I was actually close to being engaged to one of them, but I didn't go through with it because she couldn't control me.
But my wife Christine* could. If I wanted to go out with my friends, she'd say, 'Have fun,' and that was it.
It was such a change from the other girls I dated, who used to give me a hard time, wanted to know where I was going and why they couldn't come with me. I went out for a while with one girl who actually said, 'Okay, but now you owe me' when I wanted to go to a wrestling match with a buddy. It was a major turn-off.
But Christine couldn't care less. Whenever I told her I wanted to go out without her, she'd just smile at me and say, 'Have fun.'"
"How exactly was that controlling you?" I asked. "You got what you wanted."
"Yeah," he said, "But as soon as I went out, I missed her. I knew she wasn't sitting around waiting for me to call. I didn't know what she was doing. And since she didn't give me grief about going out, I didn't feel like I'd made prison break. I ended up wishing I was with her, instead of with my friends."
Lest you think this is sexist, put yourself in Ben's place: Who would you be more attracted to? A guy who calls you three times a day, makes demands on your time, and harasses you when you want to go out with your friends? Or a guy who calls once a day (or a couple of times a week), asks you what you'd like to do over the weekend, and tells you to have fun when you want to go out with your friends?
Wouldn't you want to see the second guy more often?
The lesson here is, if you want a relationship with somebody, you must give him air. Give him his freedom. (It doesn't matter if you have nothing else to do except pre-treat the meatball stains on your blouse, keep it to yourself.) Smile and tell him to have a ball. Then let him wonder how you'll spend your time off.
Is it scary? Sure, it's scary! What if he meets another woman while he's scarfing down nachos at the local tavern? Well, what if he does? He's obviously not the right guy for you, and it's better to know that sooner than later.
But consider this: What if he goes out and notices the happy couples and wishes he were with you instead of his friends? What if it dawns on him that the unattached girls hanging out at the bar can't compare to the woman he really wants (you!)?
What if he spends the night thinking of you, missing you, wondering what you're doing and who you're with? Thinking about what a breath of fresh air you are, a woman who's secure enough to do her own thing and give him some time on his own?
What if?
*Names have been changed.
Terry Hernon MacDonald is the author of "How to Attract and Marry the Man of Your Dreams." Visit her website at http://www.marrysmart.com
luxury cleaning services Buffalo Grove ..You can rest assured that the charm of your Maui... Read More
You have made the decision to contact a marriage counselor.... Read More
For many centuries wedding favors have been a part of... Read More
Biologically, a coupling between male and female (with some very... Read More
You've been invited to the bridal shower ? what fun!... Read More
Are you in the process of planning that last special... Read More
It wasn't the wedding of the century. Six people in... Read More
The more realistic you are as you prepare for marriage,... Read More
Your big day is now over all the stress of... Read More
A wedding planned in the spirit of nature provides the... Read More
Ever since Queen Victoria wed in 1840, however, white has... Read More
White is traditionally a symbol of purity and as it... Read More
Being disc jockeys, we get the opportunity to evaluate many... Read More
Tracking down a wedding officiant can be a little intimidating.... Read More
For better or worse, in people's minds weddings and wedding... Read More
It's time to look for a banquet facility. Most clients... Read More
Most people are aware that significant wedding anniversaries such as... Read More
If your wedding or party is being held in a... Read More
Let's face it retirement is a time of great transition... Read More
One of the good things about Las Vegas Wedding Packages... Read More
Basically, there are three wedding bouquet styles. The cascade, round... Read More
Your groomsmen will be donating their time to your big... Read More
Undoubtedly, the groom will want to choose a few good... Read More
Of all the things you need to do, buy and... Read More
I recently watched a CNN programme which centred on "kidnapped... Read More
quick home cleaning Northbrook ..Symbols! Weddings are full of them. Exchanging rings. Exchanging roses.... Read More
Being apologetic doesn't come easily for me. Unfortunately, being inconsiderate... Read More
It wasn't the wedding of the century. Six people in... Read More
You have made the decision to contact a marriage counselor.... Read More
Your wedding day, what is presumed to be the happiest... Read More
You can rest assured that the charm of your Maui... Read More
The most unique beach wedding reception ideas are sparked by... Read More
So you're having a wedding anniversary. Congratulations! It's quite a... Read More
The enchanting Belize honeymoon resorts captivate every visitor through the... Read More
If you are considering a beach wedding, the ideas are... Read More
Tracking down a wedding officiant can be a little intimidating.... Read More
The most important day of your life is drawing near... Read More
When it comes to response/RSVP cards, the goal is to... Read More
At one time or another, most of us have had... Read More
When your marriage is in trouble and you're fighting to... Read More
Gatlinburg in Tennessee is the city with streets of art... Read More
Somewhere when you least expected, you find the person who... Read More
Games can make or break a shower. The best can... Read More
Second marriages can be a tricky situation for a variety... Read More
Diamond spending - well, that is up to you. What... Read More
So you have been invited to a wedding. Whether you... Read More
It goes without saying that we all want to look... Read More
The vows you take to become husband and wife are... Read More
Wedding shower invitations should lay out all of the necessary... Read More
If there are wedding bells in your future, then surely... Read More
Marriage & Wedding |