Getting To "I Do", by Patricia Allen: a book review

Read Louise's review of Pat Allen's Getting to “I Do” or add your own review by clicking here and scrolling down to the ‘reply’ box.

Can you be in charge without turning into her mother?

Mistakes are common when couples change the basis of their relationship, so it is wise to take it slowly and be alert for signs that there is a problem. Assume that you will have to make changes as you go along. Those who are flexible and open to making changes are likely to do better.

Taken In Hand is about male leadership not spanking

Being taken in hand is not about spanking. Sometimes Tevemer's husband takes her in hand without spanking her at all.

Are you worth your weight in gold?

Kat's husband is.

Taken In Hand has changed our marriage

How has Taken In Hand changed your marriage?

FAQ (answers to frequently-asked questions)

Do you have questions you want answered about Taken In Hand? Now would be a good time to ask them. If anyone would like to help me compile an FAQ, whether by suggesting further questions or answering any of the questions listed, hit the read article link now!

Are you the Conan the Barbarian type?

If you're looking for a Conan the Barbarian type, the requirement that consent be explicit is a real drag. DeeMarie has some advice for any Conans out there.

Respect and responsibility

If you are a woman, have you ever felt uncomfortable dating a man who expects you to serve him? Have you sometimes been a bit too giving? What do you think about this quote from Pat Allen's book Getting to “I Do”?: “A masculine-energy man does not marry a woman who gives to him, unless he is a “little boy” who wants to be mothered. A masculine man marries a feminine woman who is available to receive from him, who respects him for giving, and who knows how to give back to reward him but always a little less than she gets. [...] Masculine men like problems and challenges. They like the chase. “Little boys” like Mama to do it for them; they don't want you to ask them for anything at all.” (p. 59-60, Chapter 4, Is giving masculine or feminine?)

What women want

This is what I want. If you too are a woman, what do you want?

The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands: a book review

Read Charlotte's review of The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands, by Laura Schlessinger, or add your own review by clicking here and scrolling down to the ‘reply’ box.

When is implicit consent enough?

To what extent do you think that consent for control should be explicit? Does it depend on the way control is expressed? What do you all think?

Consent makes all the difference in the world

One person's dream is another person's nightmare. The difference is consent, as this little story shows.

Could you be a slave, owned, property?

Does property always do what it's told? Does being a slave mean abdicating moral responsibility in the name of obedience? Why might a woman consider herself a slave, and why do Taken In Hand generally prefer not to a slave?

Being taken in hand was really rather super

For those for whom being taken in hand can involve being given a jolly good hiding!

Wedded bliss

For many couples, the move to a Taken In Hand relationship brings fewer arguments not because the woman is then silenced (she is not) but because there is more good feeling and intimacy in the relationship.

Find your voice and speak

Ameribritwife says that reading this site reinforces her self acceptance and gives her new ways to see herself, her husband and their marriage.

Taken in hand by tenderness

Ameribritwife asked her husband to help her wake up earlier. Hit the read article link to find out what happened.

How do you relate to one another publicly?

Do you prefer to keep your power exchange private, and why?

The Virgin and the Gipsy, by D. H. Lawrence

Read this review of D. H. Lawrence's short novel, The Virgin and the Gipsy or add your own review by clicking here and scrolling down to the ‘reply’ box.

BDSM . . . kink with some psychological payoff

Before she found Taken In Hand, Untamedcherub enjoyed some BDSM play scenes, and recounts what she gained from them.

From BDSM to Taken In Hand

KrosRogue is one of the many individuals who have arrived at Taken In Hand via BDSM. He says that he owes much to BDSM philosophy, which is, like Taken In Hand, based on primal desires derived from sadism, masochism, domination, and submission.

Familiarity breeds contempt

An argument against “excessive familiarity” in close relationships.

Is the discipline focus limiting your relationship?

Taken In Hand is not about disciplining a naughty wife, and if you view it that way, you will probably eventually find it unsatisfactory. Stephen explains why.

A gentle giant who loves and serves the woman he leads

To read Kat's touching tribute to her husband, hit the read article link now.

A woman must know that her man cares

Being a husband is not about being a warden, it is about caring.

He's in charge. . . but I do it my way

Is there one undisputed leader in your relationship? If so, what does that mean in practice?

Wanting the impossible dream - a man in charge

Lois doesn't believe that it is impossible, and I hope she's right.

Do the right thing - be the captain of your ship

Some excellent advice for the man whose wife or girlfriend wants to be taken in hand.

Real life leadership or rules and rigidity?

Tevemer and her husband dropped the rules-based approach they adopted in the beginning – in favour of a more naturally-evolving real-life style of leadership.

Given a choice between two men ...

... why do some women gravitate to the one who treats her worst?

Learning to be more assertive can take time

A voice of experience on the process of how one husband took up the reins when his wife started dropping them...

Abusive men: Hedda Nussbaum's list of red flags

Though we might have quibbles with it, reading this list could help someone in an abusive relationship to face the fact that it is.

Is it true that a man shouldn't need to get physical?

It is often said that a man should not need to get physical to remain in charge of his woman. Tevemer points out the flaws in this idea.

On being a man

A man must have the capacity to look beyond himself.

Is he head of the household?

If a man is kind and generous-hearted, can he be head of the household? Yes of course! Those who aren't, shouldn't be.

How we stopped fighting and became happier together

A week after discovering the Taken In Hand site, Louise and her husband had a terrible row. To find out how they resolved the crisis and became happier together, hit the read article link now.

Taking it step-by-step making piecemeal changes

To read Jennifer's interesting account of how she has gradually explored Taken In Hand ideas with her husband, hit the read article link now!

Are you paying attention? Are you really connecting?

A Taken In Hand relationship is about the two indiviuals engaging and connecting. To find out how Jett really pays attention and takes into account his mate's wishes, hit the read article link now!

Different strokes for different folks

Even within Taken In Hand, different individuals have very different preferences.

The Five Love Languages, by Gary Chapman: book review

One reader found this book helpful.