People’s Approach To Marriage Differs From That Of Their Parents

18.

“My mother still thinks that a wife needs to manipulate her husband and let him think things are his “idea” when you want something. It’s very old-fashioned and is clearly one of the many ways my mother (a southern boomer) maintains misogyny as a woman. Whenever I talk about a disagreement between me and my partner, this is her immediate and only advice. She will brag about how things went her way, be it her point in an argument or what to have for dinner that night, using this method instead of clearly communicating with her partner.

After seeing her two marriages crash and burn, I knew I never wanted to play games like this with my husband. We make it a point to listen to what the other has to say with no judgement. We respect each other as equals. Were her husbands the perfect communicators? No, probably not. But she made things a million times harder by not saying what she really wanted and trying to control them. She has no problem being clear with her children, female friends, etc. Why should a man, particularly your partner be any different?