Despite the condescending title of this thing, this is not the rantings of a neglected housewife. Although I've never figured out why exactly, friends and random Facebook people are always asking me for advice in regards to marriage, relationships, sex, or friend issues. Goodness knows I don't have it all figured out but I try my best to give sound advice based on my very colorful catalog of life experiences. Sooooo, here ya go. This will be the Official Workbook of love, life, and friendship as I see it.
You'll notice an ongoing theme of making the other people in your life feel significant while not making yourself feel insignificant. A lot of times we get so caught up in the happiness of those around us, that we forget about ourselves. Especially women.....and ESPECIALLY wives and mothers. Most of us don't even realize we're doing it either! It's as simple as always letting your girlfriends chose where to have lunch and then one day suddenly you feel like nobody cares what you like. Or it could be always allowing your kids and husband to bathe first before bed and then realizing you've been taking cold showers for 10 years.
STOP IT! Believe it or not the world is NOT going to end if you take the first shower or suggest a new place to do lunch. At no time in the course of someone's life will they always get their way all the time. This applies to the people around you too, not just you!
When it comes to friends and family we are all sharing each other's time here on earth. We all need to be respectful of that. So here's some homework :
When you and your girlfriends go out to lunch next time, ASK that friend that always says "whatever you guys want" to choose the place you all will eat that day. And tell her y'all aren't going to lunch until SHE chooses. If she's reluctant then ask her what her favorite food or place to eat is and choose a place accordingly. She'll thank you for it.
Tonight, if your partner usually showers last, get them a fresh towel and start the shower and tell them to go first! If you usually shower last, tell them NO, I'm going first tonight.
Ask your kids what they want to eat for Pete's sake!!! Think about being a little kid for a second. They are humans too and have cravings but they always have somebody else deciding what they will eat. Letting them pick what's for dinner (within reason, of course) will help their self esteem and help them to feel like what they want matters.
BOOM! Right there I've given you three ways to make three VIPs in your life feel significant without making yourself feel insignificant. And that's what it's all about people. It's just the golden rule really. And when you respect others, others will respect you and you'll end up respecting yourself more in the process.
Keep it respectful folks. Peace!
