The age old question.
My answer to this is yes, and no. I believe after a while our partners begin to have what I call “selective hearing”.
There are key words in our language that our partners hear. If your partner is a man, the words he responds to might be “sex, food, football, TV, cars, hunting, etc”. Key words they block out are “feelings, romance, we need to talk, etc” You get the idea, don’t you? Oh I am sure there are key words I block out too, when my partner says them, like “what’s for Dinner?, laundry, dishes, sex, football, hunting, etc.” and the ones that get my attention might be “money, romance, the kids, etc.”
Tonight when my husband came home, he asked how my day was, and I commented about having a really bad headache most of the day. It wasn’t ten minutes later he asked “So are you feeling better today?” Well “DUH” if having a really bad headache means feeling better, well I guess.
I could go on and on with the times I realize he doesn’t listen.
Oh Well.
January 2nd, 2009 at 6:13 am
It’s cliche but communication is key to success..sure sex is great and all but after you do the deed and watch a movie there’s still 20 hours or so left in the day
January 17th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
I agree with mmo. Communication is key to any relationship.
February 26th, 2009 at 1:37 am
To have a good relationship you must listen to your partner always, so that you will have a good bond to each other.
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:02 am
i could agree with you more.. constant communication is essential in a relationship and you have to listen to each other,and always have a happy outlook in life, i always believe that a couple who spend time a lot having fun will have a lasting relationship and you’ve to accept each others differences too..
i like your post!
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:18 am
Selective hearing is a very difficult thing, and it’s usually the man selective hearing rather than the woman - but not always! I think the key (and it’s a tough one) is for both parties to talk about it (properly), and both to make a commitment to work on it. It’s easy for one partner to say the other is not listening and it’s their problem, however the person doing the talking needs to make sure they aren’t talking non stop all the time when it’s not needed. I’m not saying sit in silence, but in many cases people who tune out are in a relationship with someone who just won’t stop talking - a commitment by both to communicate better is difficult but necessary.
January 13th, 2010 at 8:27 am
y partner has developed selective hearing, very interesting post especially mmo, you make a very good point!