by Gary Maclean

Created on: August 09, 2008   Last Updated: April 23, 2010

I like to think of myself as the perfect mate for any woman. I may not be that idyllic mate but I try. I try really hard to make certain my partner is always happy with me, with our relationship and with herself. Still, there are those times when I stand and stare in disbelief as I am being told all about myself. The instances are few and far between but even now, my wife will find an occasional reason to let me know what went wrong. She will have to confront me with one of my faults.

Sometimes it hurts me deeply. Sometimes her words are so cutting that it slices my heart to ribbons to think I ever did anything that could have possibly displeased her so much. Other times her disclosure simply leads to a good healthy discourse on how something should be done and how it shouldn't. On occasion, she even miss-speaks herself and I get to point out where she is wrong. I certainly prefer the latter approach but let's face it guys, we are nothing more than men. When it comes to women and what they want, we are lost. We try but typically fail. When we fail, there are a few things a woman could keep in mind if she is considering telling her partner something she would consider one of his faults.

5) DON'T LET IT BUILD UP: Don't fume over one inconsequential act we seem to repeat day after day after day. Don't let it warp your sensibilities till you feel like screaming. When you first see something you think is a fault, let us know. We really do want you to be happy and we will work on it. Things that may have been formed as a habit, over many years, will take a while to reverse. If you wait too long you may end up saying or doing something you really never wanted to in the first place.

4) MAKE SURE IT IS WORTH YOUR WHILE: Whatever the fault is, is it really that bad? Some things may seem like a fault but is it really just a part of your partner's make up? My wife continually stumbles when she tries to tell a story. Sometimes so much so that the story is damaged beyond repair. She stutters, forgets facts and audibly tries to remember them, she even ends up forgetting what she was telling to begin with. Will I ever say anything about it? I doubt it. This is my wife. I love her. I love her so much I can sacrifice a story or two. I don't need those facts as much as I need her well-being.

3) BE SURE YOU ARE RIGHT: Don't attack us only to find out you were wrong from the beginning. Not that it would hurt us any for you to have to admit your own fault but you don't want to put

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