| March 12, 2000
This was forwarded to me--one of those many anonymous
things floating in cyberspace. This one I really needed, but it also
raises a question: Are almost ALL women co-dependent?
God bless you for the work you are doing, Nell
Make-Do Women
When I was preparing to get married, I started getting all sorts of
advice, especially at bridal showers and things like that from family and
friends. But one of the most interesting "lessons" came from a
woman I met for the first time, just a few weeks before the big day. She
said, "Honey, whatever you do, don't ever let yourself become a
"make-do" woman". I had no idea what she meant, but of
course she was about to explain. She continued, "men don't deny
themselves anything. Whatever they want to buy, they buy. Whatever they
want to do, they do. Meanwhile, there is the wife, making do with her hair
not being done, her clothes from yesteryear, her nails in need, never had
a pedicure, scraping the bottom of her tube of lipstick! Oh, I could go on
and on with how "we" make do. And why? Because the car needs
fixing, this bill is behind, we have to use our time to take care of this,
or take care of that, we're saving for this, working, cooking, cleaning,
raising, etc."
She warned me to never become a make-do woman, because she says if you
start, it is hard to stop and one could easily find themselves making-do
for the rest of their lives. It's not good to start something that you do
not intend to finish. I vowed, it would never happen to me. I didn't think
much more of the conversation until one day I began to take notice, she
was right.
Men are a lot better at being good to themselves. Some call it being
selfish, there has to be another word for it. Yes.
Tell me if you know. Self-caring! Whatever
you call it. It does have its place. When they want to play ball, or golf,
or fish, they go! When they want to buy clothes, or equipment, or video
games, or whatever their "thing" is, they buy! Have you ever
tried to stop one? Has anyone ever been able to stop one? Let me know!
When I look around I see a whole heap of make-do women, married or not,
with or without children, they are all over the place! I have decided that
I am going to make my best effort to become a "make-time" woman!
I will make the time to do what I need to do to be good to myself, whether
that's a trip to the salon, or the gym, or the mall. This time I'm gonna
take a lesson from the guys!
Some good points! Thank you Nell. Dr.
Irene |
