Menfolk
I'm reading a great new book called, For Women Only. It's by Shaunti Feldhahn. It's a short little book about a few points in the male character that we aren't really aware of. Guys explain themselves in "manspeak" and think we understand, but we don't.
The one idea that we only have a foggy comprehension of is their sense of dignity.
We have heard things like, "Men have a fragile ego." Another thing guys say to their wives is, "I can't do that! I'll lose my guy card!" The guy card is like a driver's liscence. If they get too many points scored against it, they lose it. Slowly, comprehension is coming to me.
I'm gonna try to put it in girlspeak:
Men have a complex code of decorum. They must maintain composure. Things that would never embarass a female are off limits to a man. Examples are: A woman can change her mind, while a man must be decisive. A woman can wear guy clothes, but... well, we won't finish that sentence. Women can drive any vehicle they please. A guy must not drive too small or too colorful of a car, especially a Neon. There's talk out there about the Toyota Prius.. Is it a gay car? A woman can have as many unwarranted emotional outbursts as she feels she needs, but a man must be imperturbed. He can't say, "I don't know," but must tell what he DOES know.. or what he assumes... or guesses.
But the ironic catch is that when his wife teases or insults him, the rules of decorum still apply. he must not act perturbed. She then perceives that her behavior has not offended him. But do you remember the little fat kid who you saw being teased by his classmates? He laughed it all off, but no one could enjoy that kind of treatment.
I just cringe when I think of how I have embarassed Jeremy in the past. Teasing him about driving the wrong way in front a guy friend. Telling the family that it's his fault we are late. I'll just stop there.
My new commitment is to avoid embarassing my bitsy-pookums. Opps! Dang! Did it already!
I have a theory! I have noticed that women can do a passable job of almost anything. They can muddle through until they get it right. Any woman has lots of talents and responsibilities. Men, conversely, just seem to select only a few areas in which to excel. ANy woman can cook or pick out a decent wardrobe, but the famous chefs and designers tend to be male. Women are like Jeeps that can go anywhere. We are adaptable. We are multi-taskers. Men are like trains that will just go one direction. But what a load they can carry once they decide where to lay those tracks! See what a beneficial partnership we have? They pick a direction, muscle their way through the big obstacles, and then we dash round and round, smoothing out the picky details.
I think that the reason that men are attracted only to a limited number of tasks is because they know they can excel in those areas. No loss of composure. No floundering around. No muddling. That pesky EGO becomes a mighty POWERHOUSE.
The one idea that we only have a foggy comprehension of is their sense of dignity.
We have heard things like, "Men have a fragile ego." Another thing guys say to their wives is, "I can't do that! I'll lose my guy card!" The guy card is like a driver's liscence. If they get too many points scored against it, they lose it. Slowly, comprehension is coming to me.
I'm gonna try to put it in girlspeak:
Men have a complex code of decorum. They must maintain composure. Things that would never embarass a female are off limits to a man. Examples are: A woman can change her mind, while a man must be decisive. A woman can wear guy clothes, but... well, we won't finish that sentence. Women can drive any vehicle they please. A guy must not drive too small or too colorful of a car, especially a Neon. There's talk out there about the Toyota Prius.. Is it a gay car? A woman can have as many unwarranted emotional outbursts as she feels she needs, but a man must be imperturbed. He can't say, "I don't know," but must tell what he DOES know.. or what he assumes... or guesses.
But the ironic catch is that when his wife teases or insults him, the rules of decorum still apply. he must not act perturbed. She then perceives that her behavior has not offended him. But do you remember the little fat kid who you saw being teased by his classmates? He laughed it all off, but no one could enjoy that kind of treatment.
I just cringe when I think of how I have embarassed Jeremy in the past. Teasing him about driving the wrong way in front a guy friend. Telling the family that it's his fault we are late. I'll just stop there.
My new commitment is to avoid embarassing my bitsy-pookums. Opps! Dang! Did it already!
I have a theory! I have noticed that women can do a passable job of almost anything. They can muddle through until they get it right. Any woman has lots of talents and responsibilities. Men, conversely, just seem to select only a few areas in which to excel. ANy woman can cook or pick out a decent wardrobe, but the famous chefs and designers tend to be male. Women are like Jeeps that can go anywhere. We are adaptable. We are multi-taskers. Men are like trains that will just go one direction. But what a load they can carry once they decide where to lay those tracks! See what a beneficial partnership we have? They pick a direction, muscle their way through the big obstacles, and then we dash round and round, smoothing out the picky details.
I think that the reason that men are attracted only to a limited number of tasks is because they know they can excel in those areas. No loss of composure. No floundering around. No muddling. That pesky EGO becomes a mighty POWERHOUSE.
posted by Anita the Sandy at 5:51 AM
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