A Dad’s Point-of-View, by Bruce Sallan
Why Don’t Couples Tell the Truth?
A scenario: two couples are going out for dinner together. As each
couple is getting ready they have a typical marital fight. It
escalates on the drive to meet the other couple at the lovely
restaurant they’re going to. When they arrive, they each angrily
slam the door on the car and storm into the restaurant. Upon seeing
the other couple, happy faces appear, and they end up having a nice
evening.
After the dinner, the following dialogue takes place in each car of
the two couples. Reverse the husband or wife, since it makes no
difference because this is not a gender-based concept/idea:
Wife (aka DU): Well, that was a nice evening.
Husband (aka BJ) (grumbling): Yeah.
Wife: Did you see how Hank treated Susie?
Husband (not paying attention): Huh?
Wife: He treated her like a goddess! Why can’t you be more like
him?
Husband (finally waking up): I’ll be like him when you look at me
the way Susie looks at Hank, with love and respect.
Wife (grumbling): Harumpf…
Recognize yourself somewhere in this scenario? My simple question
is what would happen if these two couples actually shared the
problems and/or arguments they were having with the other couple
friends? Might there be a scene like this:
Hank: Hey, it’s great to see you guys! How are you, BJ and
DU?
DU: Good to see you, too Hank (as she kisses Susie on the
cheek).
Susie: I miss you two. How are things with the kids?
BJ: Well, since you asked we’ve been struggling a bit lately.
Hank: Really, so have we. What’s going on?
DU: Well, I think BJ favors the boys over me and is spoiling them
rotten.
Susie: WOW, we just argued about exactly that on the way
here!
(Everyone laughs…a bit in discomfort).
Hank: It’s hard in a blended family to choose whom to support when
everyone seems to want a piece of me!
DU: I think the spouse should come first. After all, the kids are
going to leave…then what?
Susie: I agree with DU (gives a look at Hank).
BJ: C’mon Susie, it’s not easy or simple.
Susie: I suppose you’re right (takes Hank’s hand in a conciliatory
gesture).
DU (looking at BJ): I know you try, honey, I just feel left out
some of the time.
BJ: I’m sorry darling, but you know how much I Iove you, and the
teen years are a bear!
Get it? Wouldn’t both couples feel better? I don’t care what the
problem is. If we actually open up and stop pretending all is well
and good, everyone will learn and benefit. The hot-button topics
for most couples are the kids, money, and sex. I’d add a fourth:
time spent together or one spouse working too much. Those two are
really one thing as they obviously relate.
Let’s say, as unusual as it may be, that you and your spouse
haven’t had sex in a while – imagine that? Wouldn’t you take some
comfort knowing that you’re not alone? We all know that many
couples go through ups and downs with their intimacy. Maybe a hint
or just commiseration with another couple would help? It won’t hurt
and THAT is my main point!
If the problem is money, one couple may actually have concrete
advice to offer. On any problem with kids, experience is always a
great tool and the couple with older kids may have already gone
through the problem that the other couple is currently
experiencing.
Putting on a happy face has its place. Ironically, I think that the
most important time for that – for couples and just for you – is
when one is in a foul mood for no particular reason. People do not
like being around grumps. So, put on a happy face and when your
mood has passed, you’ll be better for it and not have subjected
your spouse or anyone around you to that sour puss!
Why do we feel the need to keep our real lives secret from our
friends? I heard a saying from Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, who quotes
his mother as expressing that, “the only happy people I know are
people I don’t know very well.” I love that quote and I think it’s
so very true. Most of us would not trade our problems with anyone
else’s. To keep going on with the sayings, I remember another where
it’s said something to the effect that if people all throw their
troubles into a big pile, they’d look them over, and take back
their own ones.
That is why there is such value if friends open up to one another
and couples do the same. Being a bit sexist, I would assert that
women tend to open up more easily to other women than men to each
other. But, couples are another thing altogether and I believe we’d
all help each other a ton by just expressing the truth of our
lives. The good, too since no one wants to go out and spend an
evening whining…
Why not try it? Please let me know what happens…
