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Topic : 02/21 More Wifestyles

Number of Replies: 2998
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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.

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February 21, 2006, 6:37 pm PST

Fire Grant - Unqualified

Quote From: sljtda

Don't you see how Kelly looks defeated?  I saw her eyes wish for that perfect life that we all strive for but almost given up that reaching Grant's goals has worn her out.  I believe that even if she performs all his request to his exact specifications Grant will still not be pleased.  I don't think Grant is happy with himself.  Grant is not her employer, he is part of the household.  It is everyone's job in a household to just do what it takes to get it done.  Job assignment is not a problem but when another member is overcome then it is all of our responsibilities to help.  After all don't we all live there and is this home for all of us!  If Grant doesn't like her performance then she needs to be fired and perhaps go to work herself and put the kids in daycare and then they both will be on an equal playing field and then perhaps the household jobs could be split evenly.  A Mom who feels like she does is not even able to perform her task as a Mom in the manner that even the children deserve.  I further believe treating another human in this manner is a form of abuse and creates a smaller person than she really is.  The next act, when they are old enough, will be the children and Grant will make unacceptable request of them also.  When will Grant be the man he should?   
Maybe Grant is the one who needs to be fired, if he can't accept responsibility for assisting in organizing the house or things he doesn't like.  She has children which takes far more physical and emotional energy than anything he has ever done.  So fire him.  He's the incompentent husband.
 
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February 21, 2006, 6:37 pm PST

happiness = marriage

Hello everyone! This is a first time I am joining Dr. Phil's message boards.  

When I watched a show it was sad to see a young man (Grant) living in a denial and waisting his life. It might sound harsh, but we have one life to live and being angry and complaining every day is our choice and a waist!  

Things in a marriage and life general are not just going to happen, you have to work on it!! If a husband wants a "perfect wife," he has to be a "perfect husband." If he wants a "perfect wife," he has to make her feel PERFECT, he has to GIVE his love! "PERFECT WIFE' HAS TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT HERSELF! SHE HAS TO FEEL APPRECIATED AND HAPPY AND ONLY THEN OTHERS (HUSBAND) WIILL SEE HER THAT WAY!  

Does Grant makes his wife happy? NOOO! Is he a bad husband? YEESS! I think Dr. Phil was very polite and did not say that to his face!! People have to realize that if they want to be happy, they have to make others happy!! Grant has to be happy because his wife is happy, not because his house is clean!! Weel, I could go on and on! Hope you understand my point! Have a great day everyone! 

 
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February 21, 2006, 6:41 pm PST

Big Deal

Quote From: elwood

Grant's not wearing his wedding ring?  That's not a good sign.
The only reason no wedding band is a big deal is because of Grant's motives for not wearing it. My husband tried to wear his ring for the first couple months we were married, he hated it. 10 years later we are still very happy and he doesn't wear a ring. Commitment is more than a band. My sister's husband broke his band doing some construction work and she had a new one on his finger before you could blink. I just don't see the big deal. I lost my ring and now have a new band, I wear it most the time, but I don't care and neither does my husband when my finger is naked, because we are both secure with each other to know a ring doesn't make  a marriage.
 
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February 21, 2006, 6:41 pm PST

precisely

Quote From: ladidyon

Kelly, you can love a man dearly and want to please him because of that love....but you have got to give your head a shake over this one....Do you not realize that all of the demands he makes have nothing at all to do with building a loving (and yes, Christian)relationship with you and the children?  His demands will never be met, because as you strive to perfect your home....the demands will ever change according to his whim.  By keeping the focus on the home and your shortcomings....you will never become worthy of his consideration of your emotional needs and those of your children's.  Grant is a weak and cowardly man where the relationship part of a marriage is concerned.  If you, by some miracle, do become a Martha Stewart and Betty Crocker ,oh and don't forget Linda Lovelace.....all rolled into one .....then Grant will have to become a workaholic and be away at work most of the time to avoid any emotional input you may need from him.  This all has nothing to do with you or the house....it's all  smoke and mirrors.....to keep the focus off the fact that  he is incapable of  giving of himself emotionally.  I know of what I speak because my father is a perfect copy of Grant and I married one myself.  However, I grew a spine really quickly as I saw the futility of my mother trying to ever please my father.  My mother died 10 years ago....I will always believe it was from exhaustion and my father almost immediately took up with a woman he cannot control, in fact the tables have been turned on him....if he doesn't toe the line he's out.....and ya know, I've never seen my dad happier.   As for my demanding husband.....well he met his match also, and over the years he has become a husband every woman dreams of.  A totally equal partner in every part of our marriage.  I help him....he helps me.  If you do not have the physical or emotional strength to turn this situation around....then you need to seek help.  If your marriage goes on like this too long....your children will learn to hate women, as they will see them as weak and unable to protect them.  If you have a daughter, you will be condemning her to a life exactly like yours...as she is learning to be a victim just as her mother is teaching her to be.  By the way....there is only one reason a man will not wear his ring....he is keeping his options open.  Kelly....get a clue before it's too late.  Grant....grow up.  

I think you hit the nail on the head.  That's all I saw when i watched the program. The man just really doesnt love her and is as you said, probably incapable of love.   He should think to himself, "if someone in our family came down with a terminal illness, would i view things differently." That puts a different perspective on life.    I don't see that he'll change.
 
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February 21, 2006, 6:42 pm PST

Electrical Engineers, give them a break.

I know a couple who had this sort of marriage.  She learned to do the housework like the wanted it done and how to cook his way until she had three children.  These children consume her life.  He loves order and finds chaos hard to handle, but with three children, some chaos is inevitable.  After 19 years, he has learned to accept her for who she is, "She makes my life exciting."  He is tops in my book, hard working, loyal to her, and encouraging her in every aspect of her life.  Her mistake is putting him "last on the list."  These men who work hard to provide a good living need to be honored by their wives in every way and their wives need to show appreciation for the fine homes their husbands provide.  I am not saying neglect the children, but DO PUT HIM FIRST.  He is the provider, after all.  Understand that an electrical engineer has a very methodical mind, and appreciate that.
 
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February 21, 2006, 6:42 pm PST

the Next Survivor Series (for Men)

  

This is for the "perfect" husband on today's show
  THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES

Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and 3 kids each for six weeks.

Each kid will play two sports and either take music or dance classes.

There is no fast food.

Each man must take care of his 3 kids; keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, complete science projects, 
 
cook, do laundry, and pay a list of "pretend" bills with not enough money.

In addition, each man will have to budget in money for groceries each week.

Each man must remember the birthdays of all their friends and relatives, and send cards o! ut on time.

Each man must also take each child to a doctor's appointment, a dentist
appointment and a haircut appointment. He must make one unscheduled and inconvenient visit per child  

 to the Urgent Care (weekend, evening, on a holiday or right when they're about to leave for vacation).

He must also make cookies or cupcakes for a social function.

Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house, planting flowers
outside and keeping it presentable at all times.

The men will only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done.

There is only one TV between them, and a remote with dead batteries.

Each father will be required to know all of the words to every stupid song that comes on TV and the  

name of each and every character on cartoons.

The men must shave their legs, wear makeup daily, which they will apply to themselves either while 

driving or making three lunches.

Each man will have to make an Indian hut model with six toothpicks, a tortilla and one marker;   
and get a 4 year old to eat a serving of peas.

Each man must adorn himself with jewelry, wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes, keep their nails  

polished and eyebrows groomed. The men must try to get through each day without snot, spit-up or barf on their clothing.

During one of the six weeks, the men will have to endure severe abdominal cramps, back aches, and have  

 extreme, unexplained mood swings but never once complain or slow down from other duties. They must  

 try to explain what a tampon is for when the 6-yr old boy finds it in the purse.

They must attend weekly school meetings, church, and find time at least once to spend the afternoon at the park or a similar setting.

He will need to read a book and then pray with the children each night without fallin! g asleep, and then feed them, dress them, brush their teeth and comb their hair each morning by 7:00. They must leave the home with no food on their face or clothes.

A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information:  

each child's birthday, height, weight, shoe size, clothes size and doctor's name. Also the child's weight at birth, length,  

time of birth, and length of labor, each child's favorite color, middle name, favorite snack, favorite song, favorite drink,  

favorite toy, biggest fear and what they want to be when they grow up.

They must clean up after their sick children at 2:00 a.m. and then spend the remainder of the day tending to that child  

and waiting on them hand and foot until! they are better.

They must have a loving, age appropriate reply to, "You're not the boss of me."

The kids vote them off the island based on performance.
The last man wins only if...he still has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice.

If the last man does win, he can play the game over and over and over again
for the next 18-25 years...eventually earning the right to be called Mother!

After you get done laughing, send this to as many females as you think will get a kick out of it and as many men as you think can handle it. 
denised
 
 
 
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February 21, 2006, 6:43 pm PST

Does he even love her?

Grant is so critical of her, and he doesn't even wear his wedding ring? she said he lost it once and she bought a new one for him 2 years ago, I really question whether he deliberatively threw it away and said he lost it, just a thought. After the first show and now the second show, Grant says he still feels the same resentment towards his wife and that she still needs wife lessions, I seriously wonder whether he loves her. His behaviours does not reflect that of a loving supportive husband. He has no respect for her, he does not even honour their love and marriage, not wearing his wedding ring is a sign of dishonor. I think he is nit picky everything kelly is doing because he either is too hard on himself or he does not love her that is why he is finding fault with her. No matter what she does right , it is never good enough in his eyes. He always has something negative to say and is always putting her down about her efforts. I think the marriage has deeper issues than about wife lessions and house cleaning, I think the problem is that Grant suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder. I think he is too concerned with the little petty things and does not even realize he is losing his wife. Personally I dont know how Kelly can stay with a person like Grant. He treats her so bad, and day by day killing off her spirit with all his negative comments and criticisms. A person can only take so much, and everyone has a breaking point, when will kelly wake up and see that she really deserves more love and attention? I feel that Kelly is putting up with Grant because she truly does love her husband and want to make her marriage work. But I doubt Grant is serious about changing his ways and ideas. I think Grant needs to open his eyes and realized how good he has it right now and learn to be happy and appreciate his wife or get a divorce and let her be with someoen else who truly respects and would treat her like a queen!!!


 
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February 21, 2006, 6:44 pm PST

02/21 More Wifestyles

Quote From: tanjanik

Hello everyone! This is a first time I am joining Dr. Phil's message boards.  

When I watched a show it was sad to see a young man (Grant) living in a denial and waisting his life. It might sound harsh, but we have one life to live and being angry and complaining every day is our choice and a waist!  

Things in a marriage and life general are not just going to happen, you have to work on it!! If a husband wants a "perfect wife," he has to be a "perfect husband." If he wants a "perfect wife," he has to make her feel PERFECT, he has to GIVE his love! "PERFECT WIFE' HAS TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT HERSELF! SHE HAS TO FEEL APPRECIATED AND HAPPY AND ONLY THEN OTHERS (HUSBAND) WIILL SEE HER THAT WAY!  

Does Grant makes his wife happy? NOOO! Is he a bad husband? YEESS! I think Dr. Phil was very polite and did not say that to his face!! People have to realize that if they want to be happy, they have to make others happy!! Grant has to be happy because his wife is happy, not because his house is clean!! Weel, I could go on and on! Hope you understand my point! Have a great day everyone! 

I think you are right on the money. My husband always treats me like a queen which makes me want to do the same for him. You should always treat others how you want to be treated.
 
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February 21, 2006, 6:46 pm PST

I Agree

Quote From: bakers4

Why is eveyone so hung up on how much time Kelly spends cleaning? She is a stay at home MOM. From what she said on the show, it sounds like she is spending her time trying to raise happy children. That trumps cleaning to the degree Grant expects anyday. Time management classes?? Are you serious? Do you have any idea how much time two small children take up? Grant is right to have certain expectations of Kelly-a reasonably clean house, nutritional meals for the family-thats fine. But if his expectation of not what she is doing, but how it is done is taking time from their children, he needs to readjust and reprioritize . It sounded to me like she was holding up her end of the deal just fine.

I completely agree.  I do think Kelly is cooking, cleaning, and caring for her children just fine.  I think the real problem is that Grant has unrealistic expectations.  I think no matter how clean the house is or how the meal is cooked it will never be good enough for him.  He has a big problem with his expectations.  Dr. Phil should send Kelly away for a week long vacation and let Grant be the stay at home dad for that week, with no cheating (grandparents help).  He should get a realist taste of what Kelly does everyday.  He seems to think that she doesn't do any work, she just plays with the kids. 

  

I do know about this first hand.  My husband used to come home and expect everything to be cleaned up, I mean everything.  Unrealistic at the time considering we had two small children.  He didn't even want toys in the livingroom.  He would come home at 5:00 pm in the summer and expect that the kids would have all the toys cleaned up in the back yard, he would get angry.  Fortunately for us he realized that this is unrealistic and he changed his focus.   

 

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February 21, 2006, 6:48 pm PST

bwhahaha!!!!

Quote From: denised

  

This is for the "perfect" husband on today's show
  THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES

Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and 3 kids each for six weeks.

Each kid will play two sports and either take music or dance classes.

There is no fast food.

Each man must take care of his 3 kids; keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, complete science projects, 
 
cook, do laundry, and pay a list of "pretend" bills with not enough money.

In addition, each man will have to budget in money for groceries each week.

Each man must remember the birthdays of all their friends and relatives, and send cards o! ut on time.

Each man must also take each child to a doctor's appointment, a dentist
appointment and a haircut appointment. He must make one unscheduled and inconvenient visit per child  

 to the Urgent Care (weekend, evening, on a holiday or right when they're about to leave for vacation).

He must also make cookies or cupcakes for a social function.

Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house, planting flowers
outside and keeping it presentable at all times.

The men will only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done.

There is only one TV between them, and a remote with dead batteries.

Each father will be required to know all of the words to every stupid song that comes on TV and the  

name of each and every character on cartoons.

The men must shave their legs, wear makeup daily, which they will apply to themselves either while 

driving or making three lunches.

Each man will have to make an Indian hut model with six toothpicks, a tortilla and one marker;   
and get a 4 year old to eat a serving of peas.

Each man must adorn himself with jewelry, wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes, keep their nails  

polished and eyebrows groomed. The men must try to get through each day without snot, spit-up or barf on their clothing.

During one of the six weeks, the men will have to endure severe abdominal cramps, back aches, and have  

 extreme, unexplained mood swings but never once complain or slow down from other duties. They must  

 try to explain what a tampon is for when the 6-yr old boy finds it in the purse.

They must attend weekly school meetings, church, and find time at least once to spend the afternoon at the park or a similar setting.

He will need to read a book and then pray with the children each night without fallin! g asleep, and then feed them, dress them, brush their teeth and comb their hair each morning by 7:00. They must leave the home with no food on their face or clothes.

A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information:  

each child's birthday, height, weight, shoe size, clothes size and doctor's name. Also the child's weight at birth, length,  

time of birth, and length of labor, each child's favorite color, middle name, favorite snack, favorite song, favorite drink,  

favorite toy, biggest fear and what they want to be when they grow up.

They must clean up after their sick children at 2:00 a.m. and then spend the remainder of the day tending to that child  

and waiting on them hand and foot until! they are better.

They must have a loving, age appropriate reply to, "You're not the boss of me."

The kids vote them off the island based on performance.
The last man wins only if...he still has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice.

If the last man does win, he can play the game over and over and over again
for the next 18-25 years...eventually earning the right to be called Mother!

After you get done laughing, send this to as many females as you think will get a kick out of it and as many men as you think can handle it. 
denised
 
 
girl, this made my night!!!! ihaven't laughed so hard in days.
 
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