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May 19, 2009

Because no one asks me any questions here I recently signed up to be an "expert" on divorce and relationships on a web site full of people who love to answer questions located at http://www.allexperts.com/. I know, I know, I have to much time on my hands, but lo and behold within one day I received the following question from Lisa who lives in Somewhere, USA:

Question: One of our customers, I might as well call him a boss, was divorced about a year ago and has a 15 year old daughter.  He moved in a few months after leaving his wife with some bimbo who has kids from different fathers and is also recently divorced.  I’ve always had issues with women who jump into a relationship and have men move in or they move in with men when they have kids.  I’ve seen it often and it is generally a bad experience.  Our boss wants us to go out to dinner, etc with the new girlfriend who he lives with.  I’m not too impressed by her at all.  She seems like a jerk and I don’t have much respect for her.  While our boss is wonderful and has been great to us, to the point we consider him a friend, I have a hard time pretending to like someone who I think is a tramp.  I realize he can be looked down upon by moving in so quick with a woman like this, but it was a bad divorce where he lost a lot.  This girl is 20 years younger than him and I think she’s playing him.  So another issue, I think she’s a user!!  He seems like a HS kid who is in love for the first time.  I really don’t want to go out even one night.  Am I wrong to feel this way?  What should I do?

Answer: Hi Lisa — thanks for writing. I just signed up to be an expert and yours is my first question.

OK … so, when faced with any obstacle a person has three choices. The choices are:

1. Accept.
2. Change.
3. Eliminate.

In this case this means you could accept the situation the way that it is. Let me help you with this one…

Know that divorce triggers all sorts of primal fears — the fear of abandonment, rejection, and there are attachment issues playing a role as well. Breaking an attachment to someone you’ve been with a while is always extremely stressful, even when you know the break up is for the best. The combination of these issues (and more) mean that a person who goes through a divorce will be "off center" for about two years or so. In fact, I tell my clients to forgive the behavior of their divorcing friends and family during this time for they know not what they do, and i call it being temporarily insane, because basically that’s what it is. (Forgive so long as the behavior is not illegal!) This crazy time is when divorcing men and women do things out of character … like buy a motorcycle, get a tattoo, and yes, take on unexplainable partners — sometimes doing this is a rebellion against conformity, as they are telling themselves that they have fit themselves into society’s box for years, and now it is time to conform to nothing! As a result I have seen wealthy doctors date pizza deliver boys, housewives in gated communities date the yard man, and on and on … but basically, how it goes is that anything goes. Don’t worry, though, there is nothing you can do about this and almost everyone wakes up from this coma of craziness after about two years. With my own friends I usually go with the flow of whatever comes … knowing that they will almost certainly come back to their senses sooner or later.

Now, about No. 2, change. The change part means you can tell your friend to change, or you can change the way you view the situation. As far as asking the friend to change, I think it is arrogant to tell people that you know better than they do, so I don’t recommend this option. What you can do is approach it in a gentle manner ONE TIME as a caring and loving friend and tell your buddy that you are concerned about his relationship. If you do this, have no expectations as to what the outcome is. Just lovingly tell him and know that you did the best you could and that you were well-meaning. As far as changing how you view it, maybe you  can tell yourself that he is going through a change and is supposed to be learning something. Lovingly allow him to learn what he is supposed to be learning.

Eliminate is the last and most drastic option. If you can’t accept or change, then you eliminate. Eliminate what, you ask? The friendship … or if he is like a boss and you can’t totally break away, you can consider distancing yourself as a social friend, and just enjoy him at work.

One last thing. I’m not a huge fan of being judgmental. I see people who most of us might see as "messed up" as people who are emotionally wounded. Heaven forbid that we learn all the ways and reasons this person has been injured, neglected, and hurt in her life – it is probably too horrible a thing to even consider. Any of us could have been subjected to such unspeakable cruelty. Therefore, I can find compassion for the emotionally wounded, and if they allow me, I can be tender and caring toward them. Have you thought of doing that with this woman?

Good luck to you and I thank you for sending in this question.

So Struggle readers, what do YOU think, did I blow it?

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April 26, 2009

Note: This one is for the single women of the world – one for men will follow …

On the surface, you’d think that finding a relationship that’s mutually rewarding and healthy should be easy, but I can tell you that it is not, and here’s why … I estimate that people who are relatively intelligent and emotionally healthy comprise about 5 percent of the population – this is what I consider to be the only dating pool from which we professional women can operate. The other 95 percent must be avoided and can be identified by observing the following:

1.    Still tethered to mom and/or birth family after age 35 – if they come first, you never will.
2.    Over age 45 and having had either one (usually) short marriage and/or very few or no long term relationships. Don’t fret over not being able to grab this one, despite his age, this person, who physically looks like a man is still a boy.
3.    Hangs with a bunch of guys who fall into # 2 listed above.
4.    Brags about how his children will always come first. See explanation in #1 listed above.
5.    You’re not sure what he does for a living. Sometimes he’s working, sometimes not, but whatever it is he does, there’s no name for it, when he talks about it you don’t understand it,  and no one has ever seen him do it.
6.    He wistfully talks about the good old days when he used to be successful. Yes, my friends, when times were good, he says, he bought his women expensive jewelry and cars like they were a penny a pound, he traveled the world and had his picture taken with Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela and they asked for his advice. But today, all he can give you is a toothpick after you pay for dinner. Don’t worry, he says, the good days shall return … in the meantime, can you loan him a hundred bucks? 
7.    Never ignores a short skirt, pretty leg, ample boot–ay, or upright boob size B cup and above. Oh, women hate it when this happens, so run!
8.    Misunderstands most of what you say. Sorry, but there are a ton of men out there who look and dress intelligently but just don’t have many kilowatts upstairs. If you say, “I am looking for a man who is capable of emotional intimacy,” and he says, “I am very emotional,” run!
9.    Smokes pot, uses drugs. Those of us who are still alive and lively appreciate men who are present, motivated, energized, and healthy. Pot suspends your ability to tune into other people. Need I say more?
10.    Hates his job. If you don’t like what you’re doing, make a plan to do something else, then do it. Stagnation is a turn-off, and the top 5 percent don’t do it.
11.    Doesn’t monitor his health. He’s sick but he won’t go to the doctor. Girls, if he doesn’t get check ups and is allergic to doctors you’ll be dating a ticking time bomb, and worse, he’s the type who won’t get Viagra or Cialis when the day comes.
12.    Never flosses. Run, run! Also, never kiss a man who doesn’t go to the dentist at least once a year. Why? Do I really have to answer that?
13.    Unemployed trust fund kid. These guys have the bucks, but are as boring as freeze-dried hamburger.
14.    Personalito Nondevelopmento. Speaking of boring …
15.    Not curious. You’re together and he never (or barely) asks you anything about you – good Lord the minutes will tick by slowly with this one – and if not you, what is he interested in, anyway?

Although that is a long list, unfortunately it is not a complete list. I’m sure you will help me to think of some more. But the good news is that although 95 percent of men are like the ones listed above, we still have that allusive 5 percent from which to make love happen … stay tuned for my reporting on how to recognize the Golden Fivers …

Don’t forget to add YOUR TAKE on how to identify the men in the bottom 95 …

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April 12, 2009

Last night I went to the wedding of a 51-year-old friend who married for the first time. It was an extremely joyful event for everyone there, especially his mother, who was proud that her son had waited patiently until he found the right woman.

As I scanned the crowd at the outdoor garden event, I noted many who have been married several times, some who have given up on relationships altogether, a few confirmed singles, those going through divorce, couples married for decades, others in new relationships, and of course, a variety of singles who’d like nothing more than to meet someone special. With all of those many experiences and life stories, I wondered what collective wisdom they might offer to our friend as he embarks on this new chapter in his life …

What advice would you offer, and how can my friend ensure that life with his lovely new bride is the best it can be? While I wait to hear what you have to say, I have a few nuggets of wisdom to offer  …

Think We instead of Me. The happiest couples have a strong sense of us.

Make the relationship a priority. A relationship has to be nurtured along … you can’t just marry, forget about tending to it, and then expect it to grow and stay healthy. Many couples I see woo and adore each other while dating, and then drop the ball after the wedding or when children arrive. Bad idea. If careers, hobbies, parents, kids, or anything is put before your relationship, then you may well be writing the beginning of the end to your once hopeful love story.

Cherish and appreciate. Time and time again couples in my office complain that this aspect of their relationship has been lost, so take it from them, don’t let this happen to you and keep this ever-present in your mind … a woman who feels like her man values her will be thrilled to return the favor, and needless to say, he does this through his actions.  Likewise, men tell me repeatedly that they want to feel appreciated and valued by their wives – if you have a relationship consider yourself fortunate and treat it like the precious thing that it is. Find out what makes your spouse feel treasured and do it as often as you can.

Learn to fight healthy. Yes, there are ways to rip each other apart and destroy your marriage, and there are other ways to disagree and make your concerns known without drawing blood. Learn how to argue fairly, maturely, and respectfully. Research shows that healthy marriages have 5 positive interactions to every negative one – keep that in mind as you communicate with the one you love.

Getting to know you. Just because you’re married doesn’t mean you know all there is to know about your spouse. When you learn as much as you can about your beloved, respect and admiration will build. Shhh… here’s a secret that marriage therapists know … knowing and understanding your spouse builds a foundation of caring, and when couples truly care about each other it affects everything and a sound marital house is built.

Mesh your dreams. Couples can work with each other to make their dreams come true, and when they do it strengthens the fabric of the relationship.

Touch and kiss. Keep the affection you brought to the marriage. Hold hands, hug and kiss each other romantically every day – how about locking lips for at least 10 seconds?

OK, so there is my starter package of advice and wisdom for my newly married friend … do you have anything to add?? Any life lessons learned about relationships, marriage, and romance you’d like to share?

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