Date Your Spouse for the Rest of Your Life

~Sept 24
~You worked hard to win over your spouse when you were dating. You should keep up the good work during your marriage. Love and respect must be continually earned.
~Why assume that your spouse will always love you? Your actions have a cause and effect.
~In marriage, you learn a lot about another person's issues, but you learn a lot about your own issues too.
~This can apply to friends too. Be kind to your friends, or you could lose them through attrition and time.
~Marriage is work. But it is not really hard work. It's work that pays off if you give it some effort.
~Treat your spouse as well as you treat strangers; with respect and kindness.
~A caller said that as a tennis player, she could tell whether the mix-doubles teams she played against were married or not, because 9 out of 10 times, if the couple was mean to each other, they were married to each other. And that is sad.

Does it matter? Singleness vs Marriage.

Sept 17
~Dennis talks to Kim Calvert, editor and publisher of a new magazine celebrating the single life, Singular.
~Dennis argues that the ideal for society is marriage. Kim argues that it doesn't matter, both are equal.
~Dennis says marriage helps mature a person and helps them become deeper. Kim says that can happen but doesn't always guarantee it.
~Kim says people shouldn't look to marriage for happiness; Dennis agrees.
~Even though they are both divorced, Dennis hopes to remarry someday; Kim could go either way.
~Kim says "I’d rather be single for the rest of my life than be unhappy with the wrong person."
~All things being equal, Dennis argues the best life has to offer is to be in a happy marriage.

skews towards men

Sept 10
~Dennis begins by addressing an accusation by a listener that the Male/Female skews towards men. Dennis pleads guilty and explains why this is so….

• 1. Men are simpler. Less complicated than women.
• 2. Dennis is a male, thus can give insight about men that he can't about women.
• 3. A Woman who understands the male nature of her husband will have a happier marriage.

~Men need a defined role in the family. It can be breadwinner, or homemaker. Whatever it is, men respond better when their role is clearly defined.
~Men want wives, not competitors.
~Most men are not jerks. They don't marry with the intent to be unfaithful.
~Men need to be recognized for their achievements.

Role Models

August 28
~Dennis talks briefly with Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, former lieutenant governor of Maryland, eldest daughter of the late Bobby Kennedy, and delegate to the convention, about the difference between boys and girls and macro-role-models.
~This wasn't a Male/Female hour, but interesting points about starting values and beliefs.