What’s a real man today — especially when it comes to the little things, from day-to-day manners to pitching in to help others, to high occasions such as birthdays and family reunions?
How about YOUR man? Tell me what a REAL man is all about in your opinion.
Manners?
Pitching in?
Family and special occasions?
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Cheri says
Good morning Rhoda,
I think your hubby and mine were cut from the same cloth. We are always telling Jay that he was born 100 years too late.
Lindsay says
I’m not sure what makes a man a “man”. But all I know is that I love mine to pieces and wouldn’t change a single thing! That’s when you know you’ve found somebody special – loving them because (and/or in spite of) their faults.
Love this post, Rhoda!
Lindsay
Tell’er All about It
Jennifer says
Rhoda, I love my man more than life itself. He’s the one who will tie a bow in his girl’s hair on Sunday morning, fire up the grill to cook dinner for the family (and set a beautiful table as well),and go to framing workshops in Atlanta. But, he is also the one that absolutely loves NASCAR and Navy football, drinks his whiskey strait, and drives a tractor around while wearing a cowboy hat. I have to say, he is near perfect: He has gone from one who didn’t even know he was graduating high school until 30 minutes before the ceremony to working on his PhD today, the one who can after 15 years still put butterflies in my stomach when he comes through the door after work, one who will get in the floor ( or sit at a tea table) to play with his kids, and the one who will fold clothes while I am out with the ladies. He works hard to provide for us; so much so that I am privileged to stay home and keep house and raise our kids. He has definitely been a blessing in my life as he is always encouraging me to step out on a limb when I have crazy ideas. You just can’t beat that!
Have a fabulous week!
Shyra says
Your man sounds a lot like mine…one with a mind of his own! I love that about my husband. He’s smart, hard-working, and a terrific father. Of course we’ve had our differences (who hasn’t?!) but he’s always willing to hear my side and is a good listener. I, too, am so very thankful to God for putting me with the one that fits me like the right puzzle piece! Thanks for sharing your thoughts…it’s so nice to hear a woman speak about her husband in such a loving way! :o)
Jessica @ Life as I See It says
How sweet!! 🙂
My man is a manly man all the way – but a kind hearted, thoughtful one too. This weekend he stayed home with our boys (ages 2 and 3!!) just so I could get away with some friends to a ladies retreat.
He never complained and was so generous.
I love an opportunity to swoon about him 😉
Judy says
We’ve discussed before how it’s not always easy living with our “men” but I have to say that in the grand scheme of things, there’s no anyone other than David I’d rather be spending my life with. We, too, don’t always see eye-to-eye but we try and work out a compromise. He may not always understand what all the fuss is about decorating but I catch him telling folks about some new improvements we’ve made or how I’ve taken a piece of junk and turned it into something useful. He loves bringing me things off the street…..how romantic is that? (ha ha). He’s afforded me a life I never thought I’d ever have again, and not just monetarily. He loves my kids and grandkids and takes good care of me and my mom. I guess I’ll keep him!
Judy
Kathysue says
Wow! this could be a very hot topic!! Oh my man,well he is my heart he is the other side of me,he is my home. I have been in love with this man since he was a boy of 17 and I have seen him grow into a wonderful human being. He is gentle, fair, non-judgemental, openly shows affection, can cry when he hears a touching song or a wonderful movie. He gets tears in his eyes when he pauses and looks into my eyes. He loves his family and God fiercely. He is the kindest, most generous soul I have ever known. There are so many qualities that I admire and respect and that I wish I were more like him. He is never prideful or tooting his own horn. He is a quiet gentle soul and he is my sweetheart. Sorry I could go on and on even after 40 years of marriage. Rhoda you hit a soft spot in my heart, “My Man!!” Kathysue
rue says
Hi Rhoda 🙂
It sounds like you found a great man!
Everything you read on my blog about my sweet Rich is true and more. I can’t believe how lucky I am to have him in my life. He’s a mix of Rhett Butler, Clark Griswold (Christmas Vacation) and Gil Buckman (Steve Martin’s character in the Parenthood movie) and a little Army man mixed in if you can believe it LOL
I’m just thankful he puts up with my Scarlett O’Hara, Lucille Ball mixture 😉
xoxo,
rue
Maurie says
My wonderful husband is one in a million. I married him because I love and respect him so much. First, he is God’s…so much so that he gave up his identity as a UVA trained surgeon to spend six years at the back side of the desert in Haiti. Second, he is mine…I trust his fidelity. Third, he loves our children. Fourth, he enjoys a pretty home and loves that I decorate and keep the house tidy. (I even had a yard sale on Saturday to please him!) He is thoughtful, doing things like bringing me yellow roses for Mother’s Day, and taking me out to eat twice for the occasion–once for me and once for our mothers. Then, to top it off he gave me a sentimental card. But, more than all the kind things he does, I am thankful I married him because I respect him so much. He is wise financially, a hard-worker–the farthest thing from lazy I ever saw, and he can think circles around me. What a gift from God he is to me. For a visual tribute to him see: http://graciousinteriors.blogspot.com/2010/05/those-special-touches.html.
shutterboo says
A real man is one that will be with you no matter what kind of sticky situation you get in. And pitching in with the cleaning is always a plus.:)
Beeutiful by Design says
Your guy sounds great. For more on mine refer to a recent post:
http://beeutifulbydesign.blogspot.com/2010/04/gifts-of-devotion-or-dedication.html. Jennifer
Donna says
Taking a girl trip from Texas and flying into Birmingham. We have 3 full days; we want to shop at fun places, not malls, and eat at cool places. . Thinking even of going down to Savannah; is it worth the trip? Suggestions please…..like the places you show on your blog. It looks like you find lots of fun places.
Kim McLaughlin says
What a fun post Rhoda! I married my man for his sharp wit and sense of humor. He continues to make me laugh each and every day. Most of all he’s compassionate and that’s my favorite quality in any man.
xoxo,
Kim
Liz C. says
Hmmm… I think you just described my husband perfectly. He is strongly opinionated & doesn’t hesitate to speak his mind. He can still be sweet when he needs to be but he is never really *easy*, if you get my drift. But then, I’m not *easy* either, so I guess we’re still a good match after 32 years…
😉
Liz says
Love this post and all the comments!
I’m married to a man’s man’s man. For REAL. He’s a Marine, very tall, very tough. He has specific ideas about how our daughters should act and dress, and while he’s not hesitant to express his opinion when it’s something truly important to him, he does (wisely – haha) defer to me in most things regarding the running of the house.
My guy is honest to a fault. His integrity is one thing that sets him apart! He can strike up a conversation with anyone, but whether he chooses to stay in that conversation for more than two minutes…he’d rather stand around by himself than talk about the weather if you know what I mean. He likes sports, military history, current events…he respects a well-formed, well-informed opinion, even if it differs from his own. Heaven help the person who shows up with hot headed, second-hand rhetoric. Oh my. =)
He’s family-oriented but has a low tolerance for chaos, so big dinners are not his most favorite thing. He talks to his parents several times a week and is close with his brothers. Around the house, he mows the grass and takes out the trash. Since he works 6 loooong days a week, the rest is my responsibility.
This is a HUGE COMMENT! sorry!
Melinda says
My hubby and I just celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary on Saturday. We met in high school when we were 15 years old, so I feel like we have grown up together. My husband is a hard worker and has only missed work a few days due to illness in the whole 36 years of his career on his job. He is very dedicated to his job! He is very proud of his 2 girls! He loves to cook on the grill, but can’t cook in the house. That is my job. My husband is very easy going and does not get mad easily. It sounds like you have a wonderful husband, Rhoda. Love & blessings from NC!
momznite says
A real man is himself and that’s not a static thing.
elz says
My real man is what you see. He’s not overly complicated, but surprises me every once in awhile. My real man cooks every night and is a grill master, but don’t ask him to clean! My real man leaves his clothes in the hamper on the bedroom floor and baseball hats throughout the house. My real man tickles his girls every day and tries to teach them about hunting and fishing. My real man is my heart and I love him.
Susie Q says
My idea of a real man was shaped by my father. He grew up on a farm in the South, fought in the Pacific during WW II, drove trucks, and eventually became a career fire fighter. He saved lives, property and was the strongest man I knew. He also helped clean house, cooked meals (He made the best mashed potatoes of anyone anywhere!) and sang lullabies to sleepy children.
He strongly valued advanced education and was a voracious reader.
He could take a car apart and put it back together again and then glue my broken doll tea cup with the same exact precision. He was tough as nails but gentle with animals, my mother and me.
He was proud of my mother’s work and they were truly a partnership is every sense of the word. All decisions, great and small, were made jointly.
The same hands that could chop a cord of wood in the blink of an eye, also bandaged our skinned knees, brushed our hair and held our hands when we were afraid. He was proud of his profession but considered parenthood his true calling.
When I fell in love with my husband, I knew I had found another man as good as the one who helped raise me. Smart, he holds 2 Master’s degrees and is about to embark on his 3rd. And yes, he too reads voraciously.
Brave, he is a war veteran and spent 27 years as a Navy flier. Strong of heart and mind and body, he also is gentle to a fault with animals, children and me.
He will step in and cook meals (His mashed potatoes are pretty good but he excels at glazed pork chops!), scrub toilets and yes, sing lullabies to sleepy children.
He is in his second career, working for the government and works hard at what he does. But, as hard as he works, he gets more satisfaction from watching his children grow and prosper.
My *real man* believes a marriage is a true partnership where we make decisions jointly. He fully supports my ideas and opinions as I do his. He runs marathons, loves movies and the Grateful Dead.
He has worked with Habitat For Humanity, helped build playgrounds in inner city areas, rescued feral cats, coached little league, delivered food to those who most need it, filled sand bags in flooded areas and held my hand when I needed him the most.
A *real man* is strong enough to move a china cabinet with ease and gentle enough to give a shot to an aging, diabetic cat each morning. A *real man* is tough enough to face the enemy in battle yet don a feather boa for a little girl’s tea party. My *real man* has done all these things and done them with grace, wit and a heart that is as big as all outdoors.