Tips From The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands

When you think about Father's Day, keep in mind that one of the best ways to honor a man is to pray and ask God for help with your commitment to him. In Dr. Laura's book, The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands, a reader writes,

"I must say that an important turning point for me came when I was listening to you on the radio, Dr. Laura. You were listening to some woman grouse about picky little things, and you asked her, 'Does your husband provide well for your family? Are your kids all healthy? Do you get to stay at home with them?' And so forth. She answered yes to all those questions. Then you said, 'So stop whining! You have forgotten to be grateful.'

It was as though God took me by the shoulders and said, 'Hello! This is you, idiot!' Right at that moment, in the car, I began to thank God for my husband and for every excellent quality he has. Since then, I have made a conscious effort to do the following things:

• Thank God daily for such a terrific guy, mentioning specific qualities for which I'm grateful.
• Look for daily ways to be a blessing to my husband (trying to understand what pleases him, anticipating his needs, etc.).
• Chart my menstrual cycle and remind myself on the PMS days that what I'm feeling isn't true and to keep my mouth shut and let it pass.
• Avoid books, magazines and TV shows that describe what marriage, family and husbands ought to be like, and make a conscious effort to be grateful for things as they are instead of trying to change the people around me.
• Take responsibility for my own emotional well-being: Stay rested, don't over-commit and then complain, stay in touch with friends with a positive influence.
• Stay focused on making a home for my family and remember that this is my highest calling and responsibility, and that it has eternal value. The more I do this, the happier and more content I am."