Lennie Ross, Guest Author
Bitch, bitch, bitch. How often do you hear your girlfriends complaining about their lives? Face it, ladies. We like to complain. In fact, we speak in complaints. It is how we communicate. While it may work just fine when we’re around other women, it does not work with men. If you want to form a closer bond with the man in your life, you need to dial down the complaints, and learn to speak in a language he understands.
Here are just a few pointers on how to communicate more effectively with your significant other:
1. MEN HATE COMPLAINTS: The words “why” and “you” in any combination will set your man on the defensive. Eliminate phrases such as “Why won’t you…”, “Why can’t you…”, and “Why don’t you…” from your dialogue. Men are competitive creatures, and when challenged they will often fight. You can still win your point, by using a different strategy. Turn complaints into compliments, by phrasing your complaints as compliments, by saying “I love it when you….” or “I really appreciate it when you…”. You get more bees with honey.
2. MEN HAVE SHORT ATTENTION SPANS: Give him the CliffsNotes version of your story and get your point across quickly—before he tunes out. If he needs more details, he will ask for them. If you drone on about things, he will not recall every point and you may get angry later when you realize he wasn’t listening. Eliminate that possibility by being succinct in the first place. And, remember, men like to fix things. If you present him with a problem, he will want to solve it so he doesn’t have to keep hearing about it. If you don’t want his help, then don’t complain about it in the first part.
3. MEN HAVE AN INTERNAL SCOREBOARD: Men are competitive creatures. They are hardwired with an internal scoreboard that records wins and losses—nothing else matters. That is why he needs challenges in sports and business. He needs to win. If you criticize your man, when you indicate that he has disappointed you, it is an automatic loss on his scoreboard. Men don’t like to feel defeated, so set him up to win and reward his for his efforts.
4. MEN FEEL EMOTIONALLY DISADVANTAGED: Men tend to operate off the logical side of the brain and research suggests emotions are overwhelming for them. When faced with an emotionally charged woman a man will frequently respond with anger. Men are attracted to women who exercise emotional self-control, because it supports their own personal need to feel in control.
5. MEN DISLIKE ANGRY WOMEN: There is nothing more unattractive to a man than an angry woman with a sharp tongue. An irritated tone or harsh criticism will shut down communication. The majority of men react more to tone than words. Make a conscious effort to reclaim that sweet, soft feminine voice you were born with. Talk slower and softer and he will react more favorably. Rather than criticize and attack, positively impact your relationship with your dulcet speech. Do not underestimate the power of sultry, flirtatious suggestions. You will train him to respond eagerly to your voice.
If you truly are committed to developing a better relationship, find ways to incorporate these suggestions. You will experience female empowerment without having to be assertive like a male, and you’ll notice a positive shift in your relationship.
Copyright © 2011 – Lennie Ross. Lennie Ross is the author of the chick lit novel Blow Me and writes a blog on sex, dating, and disappointment in the City of Angels. Blow Me is the story of three single women all hovering precariously close to forty, and stuck in a lifestyle that they have long outgrown and is LA’s answer to Sex and the City. It is available on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Google Books. Visit Lennie’s website: http://www.lennieross.com and Blog.
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There are lots of eligible men out there. Young, unmarried, good looking, single, with good careers, lifestyles, fit and healthy and looking for a serious relationship. In fact many men are monogamists!
It is clear that relationships boundaries have changed. Many women will not compromise their jobs for the sake of a relationship. With career comes financial independence and like it or not, many women struggle to understand that men were brought up to feel like the dominant breadwinner. However, as many women excel in their given careers, so the man has to come to terms with the fact that he may not be the primary breadwinner any more. Indeed he may even stay at home and look after the children.
Barbara J. Peters, Guest Author
Most of us expect monogamy to be a normal part of marriage or any committed relationship. The reality is monogamy is not the norm. Why not play the part of a mistress to add new dimensions to your marriage? It just might stave off wanderings, by you or your partner.
This pleasurable act often becomes boring and ritualistic with a spouse, but with a new partner often brings new awakenings. Most men try affairs because they want sexual conquest – you can be that conquest. Play a role opposite what he thinks you are. Try a washable tattoo in a sexy place, become a blond bombshell or surprise your husband with a peek at your passionate side by hiring a 
They seldom put the toilet seat down.
Some guys pee sitting down to avoid porcelain splash thus causing you not to be PEE-ved at them.
