HELP! I'm Living with a (Man) Boy

✍ Scribed by Betty McLellan

• Publisher: Spinifex Press
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 278
• Edition: 2nd
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

From wet towels on the bathroom floor to carelessness with money or outright abuse, the frustrations of women with immature partners are viewed here as genuine problems to be solved by better communication. The guide's two-part message is that change takes two people—and that it is perfectly reasonable to expect an erring partner to grow up and start acting like an adult. Forty-one scenarios are provided to show women how to maximize communication and what to do when it fails.

✦ Table of Contents

Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Contents......Page 7
Introduction......Page 11
The purpose of this book......Page 12
The need for honesty......Page 13
Achieving the goal of honesty......Page 15
What is it about men?......Page 16
Are all men immature?......Page 17
What’s a woman to do?......Page 18
Stay and put up with it......Page 19
Leave the relationship......Page 20
Stay and make the best of a bad situation......Page 21
Stay but develop emotional independence......Page 22
The structure of the book......Page 26
Everyday situations......Page 27
1. When you want some answers......Page 29
Men are such boys......Page 31
2. When the man in your life isachild......Page 33
Suggestions for action......Page 37
3. When you feel like his mother......Page 43
Suggestions for action......Page 45
Boys will be boys......Page 53
4. Trying to improve communication when you are the only one trying......Page 55
Suggestions for action......Page 58
5. Longing for meaningful, stimulating conversation......Page 65
Suggestions for action......Page 69
6. When you never know what your partner thinks or feels......Page 72
Suggestions for action......Page 74
7. When you are the butt of his “jokes”......Page 76
Suggestions for action......Page 79
8. When you are made to feel invisible......Page 82
Suggestions for action......Page 84
9. When you are always the one who is wrong......Page 88
Suggestions for action......Page 89
10. When you sense you are being lied to......Page 92
Suggestions for action......Page 94
11. Always waiting for the “right” moment to talk to him......Page 99
Suggestions for action......Page 101
12. When you are constantly told you are mad (and half believe it)......Page 103
13. When you feel you have to keep your anger to yourself......Page 104
Repression of anger......Page 106
Suppression of anger......Page 108
Expression of anger......Page 109
Boy-power......Page 115
14. Living with a bully......Page 117
Suggestions for action......Page 119
15. When you are the victim of physical abuse......Page 121
Suggestions for action......Page 124
16. When you see your partner’s behaviour emerging in your son......Page 129
Suggestions for action......Page 131
17. When you are the victim of sexual abuse......Page 133
Suggestions for action......Page 137
18. When you have sex to keep the peace......Page 140
Suggestions for action......Page 141
19. Being abandoned after sex......Page 143
Suggestions for action......Page 144
20. When you are a victim of sexual harassment in your own home......Page 147
Suggestions for action......Page 149
21. When you discover your partner has sexually abused your child......Page 151
Suggestions for action......Page 154
Suggestions for action......Page 158
23. Discovering your partner’s stash of pornography......Page 160
Suggestions for action......Page 163
24. When he refuses to discuss it......Page 165
Suggestions for action......Page 166
Can’t live with him, can’t live without him......Page 169
25. When you suspect your partner is having an affair......Page 171
Suggestions for action......Page 174
26. When you discover your partner is having an affair......Page 178
Suggestions for action......Page 183
27. Realising you have been surrounded by lies and deceit for a long time......Page 187
Suggestions for action......Page 188
28. When you lie awake at night going over and over conversations in your mind......Page 191
Suggestions for action......Page 195
29. When you are overcome with anxiety/panic......Page 198
Suggestions for action......Page 199
30. When you live every day with a gnawing feeling deep in the pit of your stomach......Page 204
Suggestions for action......Page 206
31. Knowing you can neither live with him nor live without him......Page 207
Suggestions for action......Page 213
Living with Mr Nice Guy......Page 217
32. When friends and family tell you how lucky you are......Page 219
Suggestions for action......Page 222
33. When you are told that his behaviour is your responsibility......Page 224
Suggestions for action......Page 225
34. Living with a man who puts on a good show for others......Page 226
Suggestions for action......Page 228
Woman-Self: becoming strong, growing stronger......Page 231
35. When your problems seem to go on and on......Page 233
36. When you feel burdened with guilt......Page 234
Suggestions for action......Page 238
37. When you struggle to forgive......Page 241
Suggestions for action......Page 246
38. When your self-esteem needs a boost......Page 248
Suggestions for action......Page 250
39. When you are terrified of being alone......Page 255
Suggestions for action......Page 260
40. Finding the courage to live assertively......Page 261
Suggestions for action......Page 265
41. Becoming strong, growing stronger......Page 268
Afterword......Page 271