Manliness?

I don't know if any of my friends who live at a distance have been checking here to see how the discussion is going since our first meeting.  I anticipate there are at least a couple who were  intending on participating by proxy here.  I haven't forgotten about you and want to acknowledge your desire to take part in this journey.  May God bless and reward you in seeking to be an encouragement to the men in your life as an affirmer of masculinity!

A small contingent of women did indeed gather for food, accountability and encouragement.  And God made himself known!  The time of sharing was sweet, and transparent and every woman's dignity as well as that of her husband's was honored. Such was our intent and covenant.  Pursuant to that endeavor - we are maintaining confidentiality of group members.  There is ongoing private discussion.

The intent of the blog will heretofore be to examine cultural and philosophical forces, ideologies, attitudes or biases that pervade our relationships with men.  It will serve as adjunctive material for those who wish to take it deeper or broader.   I've had these links saved in my blog "drafts" for some time thinking I would eventually find or make the time to comment at length, but that just hasn't come to fruition.  I don't necessarily have clear opinions of either of these links.  I'm curious about GodMen, ie how is it helping men reconnect to faith? Video here

I consistently find myself intrigued by this website with its seemingly fresh perspectives on manhood.  It is very informative and entertaining, IMO.
The Art of Manliness

Have fun perusing!

Child centric homes

This is a short post in response to some things discussed in our group.

Family experts of every discipline agree: being solely focused on your children's happiness makes them, their siblings and their parents, both mom and dad, insecure!
This isn't a "dis" of attachment parenting.  Attachment experts point to the importance of a secure base from which children can explore the world.  Attunement can happen best when our own needs are met first.  Then we wont resent the demands of children.  We will respond to them from a place of fulfillment.  Give your kids a secure foundation of a loving marriage. One of the most important things we can give our children is the security of knowing that mom and dad have a passion for each other and a zest for life.
One article here:

Into the wilds. . .

Ready for controversy?
One idea I've been stretched by is the concept that men are by nature wild.  Women tend to want to tame them, and then wonder why their men loose their vitality, ie passion.  I find Esther Perel's ideas to be infusing vitality in my couples work.  What is so interesting is that she is challenging feminism/egalitarianism and sexual liberation as part of the reason eroticism in many marriages is waning.  She illustrates how domesticity spells the death of passion and responds to that dilemma by encouraging eroticism, not just sexuality.  She advocates NOT necessarily more frequent sex but more connected alive sex. Her secular perspective is one that honors truth.  That is refreshing coming from a humanist.  She is clearly existentialist, too.  Still it's good stuff!

One of her many videos on Youtube: