Dr. Laura and Jeffrey

Well, I am relieved that Charles is home from Mexico where he was doing some watershed modeling with one of his engineering classes. I was talking to my brother Jeff about it a few days ago and I said something like, "I am glad I can hand him the screaming baby and go on a walk or something." Jeff's reply was, "you shouldn't. It's not like being at work all day is more fun than being with a screaming baby all day." I have been thinking about that a lot (especially after handing a screaming baby to Charles while I went running just a few short hours after this conversation with my brother!)

Coincidentally I have been reading "The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands" which goes right along with the topic in hand. My mom gave me the book a few years ago. (The card on it said, "from Charles" in my mom's handwriting.) It seems that the last two years I have been explaining to Charles how women are extremely different than men, while not giving much thought to how men are extremely different than women. Well, I think the most interesting thing is that really, what Charles does want is for me to be happy. I have found that concentrating on that alone has made a big difference for me. The past few days when I have wanted to tell Charles something that I think he should be doing differently I have first let go of my frustration (really let go of it and not just burying it) and doing something different for awhile, then later, we can talk about it in a very non-confrontational way. It has been great! I do have to say I haven't read the whole thing, but I am enjoying it. It is refreshing to read something that is honest instead of trying to be politically correct- especially when it comes to feminism! Well, those are a few of my thoughts. I definitely recommend this book for every wife.