Dear Dr. Laura,

I am my husband's girlfriend and my two dogs’ mom. I am very fortunate to have married a REAL man.

On Christmas Eve, I had a whim to paint our kitchen, pull up the old tile, and refinish the hardwood floors underneath. Some whim, I know, but spontaneity is a pattern with me! I drove to the home improvement store in the snow, picked some paint that I liked and began my project that night. By the end of the week I had had it. I was entirely frustrated. I had already used many coats and it looked terrible. Needless to say I was not very pleasant standing in the middle of the room cursing to myself under my breath.

My dear, sweet man came into the kitchen to ask if I would like him to set up a Christmas movie for me and rub my feet. I couldn't think of anything I would like more at that moment and said "Yes, please. I'll clean up and be there in twenty minutes." He then said, "Great, but could you leave fire-breathing-dragon-Julie in the kitchen?!" Oh did we laugh. With that he changed my attitude and I changed the design plan. The kitchen turned out incredibly awesome and I greatly rewarded my husband for saving me from my own frustration.

Thank you for all that you do, and all that you have taught me in my marriage. The best thing I did when we were first married was to buy and read "The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands".

Julie