5 steps to getting him to suffer through a conversation about your feelings

The only thing we women like more than shoes, plain low-fat yoghurt and Kate Middleton’s hair is the sound of our own constant droning. It’s our way of sharing our thoughts about shoes, low-fat yoghurt and Kate Middleton’s hair; it’s our way of letting out our feelings; it’s the white noise that we drift off to at night.

Subtle differences between the way men and women’s brains are wired, though, mean that when a man speaks, he uses fewer words to convey thoughts and ideas with real weight and meaning. It’s no wonder men find us so hateful! Our constant word wastage is not only baffling to them, but also intrusive.

It’s why many are forced to dwell in man caves, lurking in the shadows of their own home and only darting out for snacks lest they get caught up in a cyclone of inane babbling.

Any woman worth her salt has learnt to save this chatter for brunch with the gals. But there will be times when you need to have a conversation about your feelings. How can you do that without risking your relationship? Here are a few ways.

Body language

Dog

As the great sea witch taught little girls of the early ’90s, never underestimate the importance of body language – and we all know how well that turned out. If you’re upset, wandering around with a right-way-around frown will eventually prompt your man to address the problem. If he’s not getting it, try staring out of rainy train windows or generally existing on the verge of tears.

Play hard to get

Ignore

Once he’s instigated the conversation, then and only then is it okay for you to share your feelings. But you don’t want to seem too keen, otherwise he’ll know that the whole thing was a set-up so that you could share your feelings. When he asks what’s wrong, the only acceptable response is a curt ‘Fine’, followed by stony silence.

Play harder to get

A photo by Rosalind Chang. unsplash.com/photos/qtIsUwoP94s

It may be a while before he brings it up again. It’s up to you to be as cold as humanly possible, though, to prompt a speedy resolution. How many more rounds of ‘Fine’ you have to play before the resolution is unique to you and your own relationship, but it should never be fewer than three, Chatty Cathy.

Use your inside voice

Sound

Literally. You don’t want to open the flood gates right away and make him long wistfully for the cold shoulder of before. Ah – those were the golden days. All that silent rage, he’ll think. No – ease him into the discussion with silent communication. Morse code is a good starting option, although if he doesn’t understand it, your repetitive series of clicks or beeps may just serve to confuse him. Work out a system that works for you.

It’s time to unleash

After all you’ve put him through, he’ll be practically begging to hear about all the recent mistakes he’s made, just so the madness will finally end. It is time. Unleash.

 

Polo Tabernacle

POLO STARTED OUT AS A FARMHAND IN RURAL WELSHTOWN WHERE SHE MILKED COWS AND FROLICKED IN THE ROLLING GREEN HILLS – AN EXPERIENCE THAT LED TO SEVEN YEARS WRITING FOR THE FARMER'S BUGLE. SHE STAYED WITH THE PUBLICATION UNTIL A HEATED DEBATE OVER THE HYPHENATION OF BATTERY FARMING CUT SHORT HER CAREER. REALISING EARLY INTO THE ROW THAT SHE WAS WRONG, SHE NEVERTHELESS CHOSE TO ARGUE IT OUT TO THE BITTER END IN AN ATTEMPT TO SAVE FACE. THIS PUT HER ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE FARMING PUBLICATION COMMUNITY – A GROUP NOTORIOUS FOR HOLDING A GRUDGE – AND ENSURED SHE COULD NEVER WORK IN THE INDUSTRY AGAIN. HER ONLY RECOURSE WAS TO MOVE INTO THE LESS COMPETITIVE WOMEN'S LIFESTYLE ARENA, FINALLY ARRIVING ON GLAMOURLESS'S DOORSTEP, WHERE SHE MOSTLY WRITES ABOUT FITNESS AND FUN NEW DIETS.

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