11. My idea of a wife-to-be

I’m afraid it might be a bit premature for me to speculate on the subject under discussion. Not that I am not the marrying type. Far be it from me to be either a convinced bachelor or a woman-hater. The thing is that I am not a womanizer either and happen to be totally inexperienced in this sphere of human relationship. Besides I believe I am still too young to think of marriage in earnest. I’ve got

another four years of studies to do, which is my primary concern for the time being. I consider it light – minded and ridiculous to ponder over marriage before I have stood on my both legs in order to provide a decent living for my family-to-be.

Apart from all that I must admit I haven’t yet met my soul- mate. I’ve got a great many female friends. They are all nice, cute and good company, but that is it. I wouldn’t fancy any of them as my wife-to-be. I might be idealizing the whole thing, but I’d like my future wife to be somebody special. Incidentally, good looks is the last thing I actually mean. Of course, she is not supposed to be downright ugly, but I don’t expect her to be a perfect beauty either, just average. But I do want her to have that “it”, implying personality charm and integrity which come through once you open up a conversation with a girl like that. Therefore it is only natural that my will-be wife should be reasonably intelligent, well – read and well- educated, because, to my mind, personal charisma and intellect always go together.

It would be a good thing if her academic preferences were to lie with liberal arts, just like mine, but I wouldn’t mind her being a mathematician or a physicist. After all, it’s common wisdom that oppositions attract. It is vitally important, though, that we should see things similarly and have mutual understanding on points of principle at all times. In a nutshell, we must vibrate on the same wave-length.

I’d hate her to be quarrelsome and go hysterical at a slightest provocation. These are the worst characteristics imaginable, where women are concerned. On my part, I’ll do my best not to antagonize her, but, unfortunately, that doesn’t depend on me alone.

I flatter myself to think that I am not the most demanding man ever living. I could be content with little and would never have my wife slave over the cooker or the washing basin, the more so since I intend to procure a washing – machine and all other gadgets indispensable in the household. I’d naturally appreciate it, though, if she proved to be a good cook.

In general, I fancy my wife-to-be caring, kind and feminine. She must be a devoted wife to me and a loving and affectionate mother to our kinds. All other things are negligible. Problems can be solved and differences settled if there is a will, and man and wife strive to meet each other half way.

12. What kind of husband I gonna make

I am definitely in no position to judge as to what kind of husband I am going to make. To state that I am sure to be the most caring, devoted and compassionate husband ever living would be presumptuous of me. But I’d very much love to be all that, as this is the very idea of a proper husband. As I am still totally inexperienced where wedlock is concerned, I find my Daddy to be an exemplary husband setting a fine example to follow. Before composing the essay I decided to interview my Mum, who has always been honest and impartial in her assessments of life at large. I proceeded from the assumption that in defiance of the popular saying ‘The onlooker sees most of the game’, for once the inside man, or woman sees most of it.

What she said only confirmed my belief that my Dad has proved to be an ideal husband. And this is not just a flattering metaphor. Apart from the conventional material minimum every man is supposed to offer his wife, like decent salary with possibilities for promotion, fair living conditions and a certain social position, he must be dependable in a broader sense of the word, protecting his family’s interests, whatever happens. Genuinely happy families are characterized by a wonderful feeling of togetherness, which can’t but transpire about couples like that.

My parents have always been together forming an inseparable unit both in time of joy and in time of trouble. All because they understand each other perfectly well, and neither of them is a family tyrant trying to overpower and subjugate the other.

Men and women are totally different species. They say that men are from Mars and women are from Venus. Men and women are known to see things differently, to have different views and priorities in life, which is predetermined biologically. Occasionally it is most difficult for them to achieve mutual understanding, but it’s fairly possible provided either of them strives to meet the other half way.

I believe it’s man’s prerogative to make sacrifices, even at the expense of his own ego and self-esteem, in order to maintain status-quo and to ensure the well-being of his family, when there is a clash of opinion.