Yesterday I was reading one of my favorite business blogs and one of the commenters totally slammed the site owner. The commenter stated that they were upset over the reviews and number of posts about a certain website browser. Said commenter felt as though they were in the hip pocket of the browser developers and that they wrote about the browser too much. They wanted less posts about the browser each week and perhaps just a weekly roundup if they felt the need to talk about the browser.

My advice…click away. If you don’t like a certain subject or post, then click away. It’s easy, it’s simple and it’s quick. Secondly it wouldn’t matter one way or another if this particular blogger was in the hip pocket of the developers of said website browser. Chances are, no I know that the blogger in question is a business owner and makes their living from their blog. So if said developer was paying for reviews, then so be it. You don’t have to like it. You can click away. I click away all the time…again it’s easy, it’s simple and it’s quick.

PS – If by any chance Purina (the makers of Purina Cat Chow Indoor Formula) is reading this blog, I will certianly shout your company name and glory from the rooftops in rural Upper Dauphin, PA if you would throw the darling Fifi some kibble.

My wonderful husband took me to the dentist this morning and they were absolutely wonderful. The dental hygienist even handed me a tissue when I started blubbering over the pain. There really wasn’t much they could do for me today because the tooth was so swollen and abscessed. I got two prescriptions…one for the infection and one for the pain. The first question out of my mouth was, “When will I feel relief?” The doctor told me that I should feel some relief once I take a pain killer but that I should feel much better by morning. I took the first dose few hours ago and the relief is starting. The final dental bill and prescription costs did not make me have a heart attack…which was an added bonus.

Today I think I’m going to take most of the day off for some rest and relaxation.

Before we go any further, I want to state that we are not having marital issues (OK Mother-In-Law, Mom and Friends), I just want to be a better wife. I know I’m not living up to my potential and change begins with me.

CAN ANYONE SAY CONVICTION? I’ve always known that I take advantage of my dear husband, but I had no idea how detrimental my actions were to his wholeness. As you can see my husband has a very soft side. Is he perfect no, but neither am I (honey don’t use this against me later). So what can I do to make our marriage better?

As an introvert I tend to be pretty self absorbed in my own little world. I internalize, analyze and compartmentalize many of my feelings and life happenings on a daily basis. With this internalization, I tend be stressed and unapproachable…not to mention snippy with those closest to me. So little by little, I am working on being a little nicer to those around me, especially my husband, stepping out of my comfort zone a little more and trying to let things roll of my back (which in all honesty can be easier said than done).

If you haven’t read The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands, I highly encourage it. I am going to post the description and one review from Amazon about the book. Now when I read the review from Publishers Weekly, part of the review resonated with me…”While many of her listeners and readers claim her unequivocal advice has salvaged teetering marriages and improved marital harmony, others perceive Schlessinger as a throwback to what many see as years of female oppression in the home.” The advice in this book does appear to take the women’s movement back a few years, but in the end with the few changes I’ve already started implementing, I can see a world of difference.

Book Description:

Women want to be in love, get married, and live happily ever after. Yet disrespect for men and disregard for the values, feelings, and needs of husbands has fast become the standard for male-female relations in America, often creating struggle and strife in what could be a beautiful relationship.

Countless women call Dr. Laura, unhappy in their marriages and seemingly at a loss to understand the incredible power they have over their men to create the kind of home life they yearn for. Now, in her most provocative book yet, Dr. Laura shows you—with real-life examples and real-life solutions—how to wield that power to attain all the sexual pleasure, intimacy, love, joy, and peace you want in your life.

Dr. Laura’s simple principles have already salvaged and revitalized innumerable strained, stagnant, even seemingly dead marriages and have changed the lives of millions. Now they can revitalize yours!

Book Review:

From Publishers Weekly
In her newest book, Schlessinger (10 Stupid Things Women Do to Mess Up Their Lives) relies upon her experience in private practice, radio and letters she received from men and women in tackling the issue of women who mistreat their men and suffer the consequences of unhappiness. The women who criticize their husbands in the stories that Schlessinger relates are depressed in their marriages and feel little love from their husbands. Unabashedly asserting that man is a “very simple creature,” who needs only “direct communication, respect, appreciation, food, and good loving’” to respond with devotion, compassion and love, this controversial marriage and family therapist claims that every woman can achieve a deeply satisfying marriage if she adheres to certain fundamentals men require. Preparing dinner, caring for the children without complaint, greeting her husband with a kiss and engaging in sexual intimacy instead of “tearing down a husband’s necessary sense of strength and importance” can result in the harmonious marriage women crave. While many of her listeners and readers claim her unequivocal advice has salvaged teetering marriages and improved marital harmony, others perceive Schlessinger as a throwback to what many see as years of female oppression in the home.

“Amber” gave us a wonderful present in late 2001, a telephone call. In the telephone call her mom said, “Amber is pregnant and would like to know if you both want to adopt her child.” My husband and I were like giddy school children, shouting at the top of our lungs, “YES, YES, YES.” So over the next few months we prepared for our little bundle of joy. Dale was excited because we would A. have a child, B. I wouldn’t have to undergo anymore rounds of fertility medications, tests, etc. which all proved to be futile and C. no more dealings with DSS and pricey international adoption agencies (which were truly out of our budget at the time).

Our little bundle was born in January 2002, with several health complications, some of which still affect him today (someday we’ll talk about those a little more). He is our pride and joy, but we remind him everyday that “Miss. Amber” loves him very much, that she is special and that she grew him just for us.

The story wouldn’t be complete if I did not take the opportunity to thank my extroverted mother-in-law, for without her too we would not have our son. See, she loves people, thrives on them. If she saw someone with a protruding belly and no wedding ring, they were fair game (yes I’m embarrassed to say). One day her attempts paid off and we were blessed with someone extraordinary.

“Amber” – there’s not a Mother’s Day (or day) that goes by that I don’t think of you and thank you for your precious gift to us. We love you very much!

Birth Moms – we love you! If it weren’t for you, there would be so many of us without our little bundles. You are miracles!

Moms – HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!

Becki

Introvert Solutions

Believe it or not, I’m speechless. I have nothing to say. If you have a solution, let me know.

PS – Why am I sharing this with you? To be frank, I don’t quite know. There has to be others out there parenting a child who is your total opposite. I’m famous for advice to introverted business owners, but man, this parenting thing has me stumped. In my minds eye I believe that if it works in business it should work at home. But baby…it don’t.