Insensitive Men: What they Need to Know About Your Menopause
How men may respond to your menopause 1) They run
By running I mean they may distance themselves from you by working late, or avoiding you by watching the sports channel and turning up the volume, lingering for hours at the hardware store, or other ingenious ways to avoid you. This doesn’t help your symptoms, your wellbeing, or your relationship. Second, they deal with it by blaming you and telling you to put a lid on it. Of course, women should try to control how they behave, but the men in our lives should also take responsibility and show empathy. Third, they try to find a solution which doesn’t work because hormone fluctuations aren’t solvable. If you’re in a good relationship, then your man wants to do the right thing but he may not know what to do. Conclusion: If you’re a man and you’re reading this-or your wife has told you to read this- you obviously care about her and want to do what’s right, and you don't belong in the "insensitive men" category. I’ll give you succinct advice because I believe that’s what you want: 1) Come to grips with your own aging process. The less you’re able to accept you’re no longer a young dog- so to speak- the harder it will be for your wife to accept that she’s changing and aging. If you can’t accept your aging process, she’ll assume you can’t accept hers either. 2) Appreciate your wife for all she is: her wisdom, her nature, her accomplishments, what she does for you and your family. Tell her. 3) Empathize with her when she’s feeling down, or moody, or is suffering from hot flashes. Don’t escalate the problem by yelling, blaming or withdrawing. Say nice things, do nice things, buy nice things etc. She’ll respond in kind.
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