Message Boards

Topic : 02/21 More Wifestyles

Number of Replies: 2998
New Messages This Week: 0
Last Reply On:
Created on : Friday, February 17, 2006, 03:07:28 pm
Author : DrPhilBoard1

Dr. Phil revisits the topic of what makes a good wife. Grant and Kelly first appeared on the show because Grant expected his wife to live up to his demanding standards. He wanted a cleaner house, better meals and a sexier spouse. After seven years, his constant criticism and disappointment had her ready to throw in the towel on trying to become the "perfect wife." Dr. Phil’s first talk with Grant and Kelly caused quite a stir as thousands of viewers wrote in choosing sides. How are Grant and Kelly now? Has Grant abandoned his critical ways and his expectation of having a Stepford wife? And why is he no longer wearing his wedding ring? Talk about the show here.

 

Find out what happened on the show.

More February 2006 Show Boards.


As of January, 2009, this message board will become "Read Only" and will be closed to further posting. Please join the NEW Dr. Phil Community to continue your discussions, personalize your message board experience, start a blog and meet new friends.


Message Emote
worried
February 21, 2006, 12:14 pm PST

Hopeful that they'll make it...

 couldn't help but wonder if he is slightly autistic? Or if there is something else that regiments a persons thoughts so much that he can't hardly function. I started out really disliking him and ended up feeling bad for him! He REALLY hasn't a clue. His brain isn't wired like most people's. And he doesn't know better. It makes no sense to his analytical mind. I was encouraged for her sake to see that he is trying. He needs lessons on socialization and coping with stress.

  

I was reminded greatly of my cousin who is a high functioning autistic. Grant would be very high functioning so maybe it's not exactly that but some basic disconnection in his brain. He does appear to want to learn and he is highly intelligent so I trust that he can.  

  

I think his wife is wonderful and that he's a lucky man and hope that he grows to appreciate that. 

 
User Mood
Happy

Message Emote
blank
February 21, 2006, 12:14 pm PST

If he wants it perfect, let HIM do it...

What a shame this attractive young lady with so much potential is 

spoken down to like a mistreated animal. She's young, for pity's sake, 

just because we're born female doesn't mean we have Betty Crocker 

within. 

  

She has much to learn, life to experience. How will she ever be able to 

do the things a woman learns to enjoy with a man peering over her shoulder? 

  

The guest woman who thought the wife should bow and please, good grief, woman, 

you're brainwashed! Do you have a life outside of licking the dirt from your husband's shoes? 

  

"Honey, let's cook dinner together" would travel much further than his 

silly rating system. 

  

How old are these two, and at what age did they marry? 

  

This poor girl is trying everything she can to be what she will never be in his eyes. 

  

Dear lady, please work on yourself, not your husband's wish list. Ten years from now 

you will develop a bitter taste in your mouth for having wasted all these years of your life 

trying to be June Cleaver.  

  

When you find a man who loves you and accepts you, burnt toast and all, then you will 

truly know what a happy marriage is. 

  

  

  

 
User Mood
Excited

Message Emote
confused
February 21, 2006, 12:20 pm PST

Grant

Grant, I am confussed about something? 

When you married your wife, did you fall in love with her or what she could do for you and how much of a trophy she could look like in front of others. If my husband took off his wedding band, I would think that he did so because he wanted other women to know that he was available. You have a beautiful wife and I am afraid that one day she will get fed up with listening to the critisism and realize that there is a man out there for her that will truly appreciate and accept her. If she takes off her wedding band and engagement ring until you put yours back on, men will start to hit on her and one of them may accept her as she is and she will fall in love with the idea of being loved for who she is. Just a little advice, when you get frustrated and start to  "white knuckle it"  look for little things that you like and appreciate about your wife and tell her. When you are truly frustrated with something, don't complain, explain. For example: instead of telling her she's not loading the dishwasher properly, thank her for doing the dishes, then explain that if you put all the cups in a row on the top shelf  and lean the bowls up against them, that more dishes will fit and you would save on the water bill and can then use the extra money for a nice dinner out together. While telling her this you should be helping though, not standing over her and demanding compliance. Many times, men will say what they what but not be specific. Women need details not demands. The more you compliment her the happier she will be and the happier she is the more she will want to please you. Make her fall back in love with you Grant before you lose her.  And finaly, a rule of thumb holding things in is not good, but if you must complain or express your dissatisfaction with something you should:  1. compliment 2. explain what your upset about and help 3. compliment 4. compliment            For every disatisfaction you should give at least 3 compliments   

If everytime you were with someone they complained about your inabilities, sooner or later you would just give up or you would just choose to not be around the person. If you had 2 friends, 1 who was always complaining about you and another who laughed alot and loved and accepted you with your faults, which one would you remain friends with????? 

 
User Mood
Happy

Message Emote
happy
February 21, 2006, 12:20 pm PST

More Wifestyles

I was a stay at home parent, my lover went to work and I stayed home with the kids, I woke at 3:30 am, cooked his breakfast, packed his lunch and layed out his clothes for the day, I cooked cleaned and kept up with the kids all day, I then got dinner ready by 5:00 pm for him to eat when he got home, and his clothes were in the bathroom for him to change into before he ate dinner, I searved him his meals and his drinks, as well as taking care of the kids, this was my job. I have always felt that the inside of the house was my job and his job, (besides his paying job) was to take care of the outside things, such as working on the cars and taking out the trash and cutting the grass, it always worked for us, but these things were not expected, they just were. Any time you place expectations on someone, you need to make sure they are expactations they can live up to, don't place the expectaions of your self on someone else, they are probably too high, and unrealistic.  
 
User Mood
Good

Message Emote
blank
February 21, 2006, 12:21 pm PST

being the happy wife

I think too much emphasis is put on being the "good wife" it is more important to be the "happy wife". Spend time alone with your partner enjoying each other as much as you can, life is too short to worry about being perfect, having the perfectly arranged furniture and clean house or making the perfect meals. Be each others friend as well as lover. Don't try to power play against each other. Both you and your partner need to consider what really is important in life. How you will be remembered when you are gone? What sounds better: she really kept a clean house or she really enjoyed life and people really enjoyed just being around her? I am not saying you need to live in a pig pen either. Take a little time to figure out what you would like to get accomplished each week in the house and do a little organization. Make a list, at the end of the week what didn't get completed, either put at the top of the next list OR get rid of it- maybe it isn't as important as you first thought it was. Hubby, there are supportive things you can do as well without having to take over all duties. Picking up after yourself or other family members that you notice have left things lying around. If you notice it, why not be the person to pick it up. Everyone pitching in to work together would be the ideal situation. It can be very frustrating to try to get it all done. If the husband is talking negatively about his wife or even disgusted glances around a room that is not perfect it can be very demoralizing to the wife. Remeber the happier mama is, the happier you the husband will be :-)
 
User Mood
Stressed

Message Emote
blank
February 21, 2006, 12:21 pm PST

That's me!

Wow! I never even thought about putting things in these terms.  I just wrote a letter to Dr.Phil about my on again off again wedding, but i may as well as be married anyway.  We have lived together for a very long time and this is what my life is like.  I was having a hard time getting to what is going on, but this just made it all make sense ...to a certain extent.  I am obsessed with being the perfect partner.  I am so overwhelmed that i am ready to call it all off.  Well, I already did...again.  We were suppose to be married on the 17th.  I am obsessed with everything.  Not just me being perfect, but i have changed the way I think, the way I wear my make up, the way I dress....everything.  Even the way I treat my kids and talk to them.  I know I shouldn't....but why can't i stop.  Everyone has been against our relationship and I jump right in to defend.  He is right and the world is wrong.  God, somebody help me.  I see these shows and think why do people do that.  I don't know how to stop.  I always give in and continue on.  Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
User Mood
Happy

Message Emote
blank
February 21, 2006, 12:21 pm PST

A Valentine Story

I think this story says it all. By Jo Ann LarsenLarry and Jo Ann were an ordinary couple. They lived in an ordinary house on an ordinary street. Like any other ordinary couple, they struggled to make ends meet and to do the right things for their children.They were ordinary in yet another way — they had their squabbles. Much of their conversation concerned what was wrong in their marriage and who was to blame.Until one day when a most extraordinary event took place."You know, Jo Ann, I've got a magic chest of drawers. Every time I open them, they're full of socks and underwear," Larry said. "I want to thank you for filling them all these years."Jo Ann stared at her husband over the top of her glasses. "What do you want, Larry?""Nothing. I just want you to know I appreciate those magic drawers."This wasn't the first time Larry had done something odd, so Jo Ann pushed the incident out of her mind until a few days later."Jo Ann, thank you for recording so many correct check numbers in the ledger this month. You put down the right numbers 15 out of 16 times. That's a record."Disbelieving what she had heard, Jo Ann looked up from her mending. "Larry, you're always complaining about my recording the wrong check numbers. Why stop now?""No reason. I just wanted you to know I appreciate the effort you're making."Jo Ann shook her head and went back to her mending. "What's got into him?" she mumbled to herself.Nevertheless, the next day when Jo Ann wrote a check at the grocery store, she glanced at her checkbook to confirm that she had put down the right check number. "Why do I suddenly care about those dumb check numbers?" she asked herself.She tried to disregard the incident, but Larry's strange behavior intensified."Jo Ann, that was a great dinner," he said one evening. "I appreciate all your effort. Why, in the past 15 years I'll bet you've fixed over 14,000 meals for me and the kids."Then "Gee, Jo Ann, the house looks spiffy. You've really worked hard to get it looking so good." And even "Thanks, Jo Ann, for just being you. I really enjoy your company."Jo Ann was growing worried. "Where's the sarcasm, the criticism?" she wondered.Her fears that something peculiar was happening to her husband were confirmed by 16-year-old Shelly, who complained, "Dad's gone bonkers, Mom. He just told me I looked nice. With all this makeup and these sloppy clothes, he still said it. That's not Dad, Mom. What's wrong with him?"Whatever was wrong, Larry didn't get over it. Day in and day out he continued focusing on the positive.Over the weeks, Jo Ann grew more accustomed to her mate's unusual behavior and occasionally even gave him a grudging "Thank you." She prided herself on taking it all in stride, until one day something so peculiar happened, she became completely discombobulated:"I want you to take a break," Larry said. "I am going to do the dishes. So please take your hands off that frying pan and leave the kitchen."(Long, long pause.) "Thank you, Larry. Thank you very much!"Jo Ann's step was now a little lighter, her self-confidence higher and once in a while she hummed. She didn't seem to have as many blue moods anymore. "I rather like Larry's new behavior," she thought.That would be the end of the story except one day another most extraordinary event took place. This time it was Jo Ann who spoke."Larry," she said, "I want to thank you for going to work and providing for us all these years. I don't think I've ever told you how much I appreciate it."Larry has never revealed the reason for his dramatic change of behavior no matter how hard Jo Ann has pushed for an answer, and so it will likely remain one of life's mysteries. But it's one I'm thankful to live with.You see, I am Jo Ann.
 
User Mood
Happy

Message Emote
blank
February 21, 2006, 12:22 pm PST

02/21 More Wifestyles

But, what does it teach a kid about grooming and personal cleanliness when he or she grows up in a house kept in disarray. Children benefit from routines in their lives - go look it up in a book. 

  

OMG, what does it teach a child to hear one parent berate the other? This is not only such very poor parenting, it is a pitiful excuse for being a bully.  

  

I don't know another woman anywhere who would or should be treated this way by anybody. When is Kelly going to turn the tables? When is Kelly going to grade Grant? Wealth -- C, Consideration -- D, Companionship -- D,   Lovemaking -- D, Parenting -- D...  How does Grant stack up on the Husband scale? Kelly should get lots of extra points for even trying to co-operate with him. Poor Kelly -- she is so poised and articulate, which leaves me completely stumped why she is silent or accepting when he is judging her and grading her.   

  

Life is too too too short. And when Kelly looks back on this marriage I can't imagine she will ever think of these years fondly. If Grant got hit by a bus tomorrow I wonder if Kelly would feel sorrow or relief?  

  

  

 
User Mood
Happy

Message Emote
blank
February 21, 2006, 12:23 pm PST

what in the world

WHO  SAID THAT WHEN YOU GET MARRIED YOU AUTOMATICALLY ARE GETTING A MAID, WHY DOESN'T HE DOES SOME WORK AROUND THE HOUSE INSTEAD OF MESSING UP WITH HIS WIFE, AND  THE LADY IN THE AUDDIENCE ALSO SAYING THAT SHE SHOULD DO IT, WHAT THE HELL. 

HOW WOULD SHE FEEL LIVING WITH A BOSS OR A SERGENT LIKE MAN NOT A HUSBAND, DO THIS, DO THAT, NOW COMON AND GIVE ME SEX, GO DO THINGS RIGHT NOW? WHAT? 

  

I AM SOOOOOOOOOO ANGRY I WISH I WAS ON THIS SHOW RIGHT NOW. 

  

PLEASE DR.PHILL TELL THEM TO GET A DIVORCE!!!! HE IS A JERK 

  

 
User Mood
Peaceful

Message Emote
happy
February 21, 2006, 12:24 pm PST

Perfect wife

I think the perfect husband is what makes a perfect wife! 

 
First | Prev | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | Next | Last