WARNING-this post also contains stuff about sex, so don't read it if you're under 18 or related to me END WARNING.
I've figured it out. After five and a half years, some of them difficult, some of them great, I have worked out what makes life easier and marital relations run smoothly, 99% of the time.
And it's having lots of sex.
That seems to be the first thing to go when you get too busy and you're working and/or have kids or just have a lot of stress in your life. In my brief surveys on the topic, I find that women are more likely to hold back than men are. This may be because women need to feel some emotional connection, and that needs to be a good emotion. Men don't seem to have that need as much. You could probably cut off your partner's toe, admit that you did it on purpose, then say "So, you want to go at it?" and he'd say "Sure, let me cauterize this thing and get my pants off."
I guess I can give credit to (or blame) these Dan Savage podcasts for my change in thinking. He made me realize how important that connection with your partner is. I mean, if you're not having sex you might as well just be roommates. And lack of it makes people crabby. Unless you're in one of those crazy swinging non-monogamous relationships (and good luck with that if you are, but hell if I'M shaving my legs for more than one guy) then it's something you share exclusively with your partner, and you need to remember how special it is.
So even if you don't really feel like it, get in there. I've found that it doesn't take long to change your mind, even if your thought right now is "He hasn't done dishes or bathed the kids in three weeks, he can go fuck himself, and so can you, for giving me this advice."
But here's the secret-a guy getting a lot of sex will do ANYTHING to keep getting a lot of sex. So if your sex life has been kind of slow, and it picks back up in a major way, you will both be in a better mood, and he will start doing the dishes. He will start doing anything you want just to keep that door open. The secret has been in our pants this whole time!
And I won't get too graphic here but ever since I embarked on this plan, I have a happier husband, a happier me, I've had dishes done, and the other day when I was heading downstairs with a basket full of laundry, he said "Allow me, my lady" and took it down and started it for me. You get to enjoy yourself, AND chores get done! (If you don't enjoy sex with your partner, I'm not really qualified to advise you on that. Come to think of it, I'm not really qualified to advise you on anything.)
So give it a shot and see if it doesn't work. And guys, if your wife/girlfriend reads this and you reap the benefits, I DO have an amazon wishlist if you want to thank me.
Hmmm.... what if the MAN is the one doing the dishes, and the laundry, and the yard work, and the school activities, and the dog duties, and the shopping, and the cooking, and the cleaning?
ReplyDeleteThen his wife should be putting out on the regular anyway!
ReplyDeleteI realize I make gross generalizations on this blog, but realize they're experiences from my life. I know there are many exceptions.
In the spirit of putting it all out there, you know, I've kind of wanted to suggest this for a while, but 'how often do you get your leg over' is not really an ok conversation starter most of the time. I'm of the opinion that you can't really have too many endorphins (or, therefore, too much sex). It doesn't always have to be the swinging from the chandeliers kind either. I read this story a while back http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/fashion/08nights.html?pagewanted=all and found it fascinating, although we didn't actually quite go that far (yet). There are certainly times when one might not really feel up to it, but gives it a go anyway, and it rocks.
ReplyDeleteThis. All of this.
ReplyDelete"This may be because women need to feel some emotional connection, and that needs to be a good emotion."
I feel like some of the problem is that this necessary positive emotion that could originate out of sex with your partner. But because you (general you!) are missing that emotion to begin with, then sex doesn't feel like an option, but then sex could give you that emotion, but you don't have it....vicious cycle, man.
Also, regular sex with primary partners is necessary in poly relationships, regardless if the general amount of sex any single person in an open relationship has is greater than. But that's a whole different conversation.
Anyway, you totally hit the nail on the head here. I'm definitely linking this to a couple of friends of mine. :)
-Leslie
Melissa, you certainly could have brought it up, we talk about poop enough, sex shouldn't be taboo!
ReplyDeleteIn other news, "How often do you get your leg over?" might be my new favorite phrase. God I love having a British friend.