real life

20 things women try to change about men

This is not my friend, but he could be….

I have a friend, a life long old friend that I went to school with. He’s funny, exuberant, charming and great company. I love to be around him because he makes me laugh.

He hasn’t changed much since school days and maybe that’s part of the appeal for me – he takes me back to my youth. But his wife, well, his wife doesn’t so much like his youthfulness.  She must love him I am sure, after all she married him, albeit many, many years ago but that hasn’t stopped her from trying to change him.

She chastises him when he makes old jokes especially about his past, she insists he wears certain clothes, has his hair shaved with a number 2, he isn’t allowed facial hair and she absolutely snaps if he helps himself to a second round of dessert – I understand that she didn’t fall in love with his dress sense (he has none) or his jokes or even his hair but there has to be something about him that appealed to her when she first met him and he had long hair, a goatee and a penchant for sweet food.

Maybe she is just part of a growing trend, I’d call her a frontrunner in fact.

The Daily Mail reports on a study conducted by Wilkinson’s Sword to launch the Movember charity fundraising event to raise awareness of men’s health problems:

Researchers found millions of women have copied Hurley’s remoulding of lover Shane Warne by altering their man’s hair, weight, lifestyle or eating habits.

Others have made dress sense their first priority, encouraging him to ditch scruffy jeans and tatty shirts for smarter, more presentable clothing.

Shedding unsightly beards or growing trendy stubble are also common issues which women address within weeks of meeting a new partner.

One in four women admitted they liked their man to shave more regularly.

THINGS WOMEN CHANGE ABOUT THEIR MEN

  1. Dress sense
  2. Shaving habits
  3. Hairstyle
  4. Nose and ear hair issues
  5. Shoe choice
  6. Aftershave
  7. Plucking eyebrows
  8. Improving hygiene
  9. Get rid of his beard/moustache
  10. Cleanse and moisturise daily
  11. Diet
  12. Financial responsibility
  13. Talking about their feelings
  14. Drinking less
  15. Watching more chick flicks
  16. Call mum more frequently
  17. Put the toilet seat down
  18. Stop swearing
  19. Share the remote control
  20. Learn to cook

Phew. I think I need to start making my husband over. Although not so much, I fell in love with him the way he is…mind you points 13, 14 and 20 are looking pretty good.

Have you ever tried to suggest a “new look” for a partner? How did that work out for you? Are there things about your partner you would like to change?

And while you ponder that how about a look through the life of Shane and Liz. Think she’s changed him much?