Dominant should not mean domineering or bullying

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 by tenderness

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

Familiarity breeds contempt

An argument against “excessive familiarity” in close relationships.

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?

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?

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!

Finding my way home

A cautionary tale about a failed marriage and subsequent terribly damaging behaviour.

Taken In Hand means different things to different people

There is a lot to consider if you want to be taken in hand. Here are just a few of the issues you might want to think about and discuss.

My husband and I face the world as a team

Bramble's beautiful relationship sounds like my grandparents' relationship. I love the mutual respect and kindness here. An inspitation!

Being Taken In Hand doesn't mean being silent

A man in control would be wise to ensure that his woman feels ‘heard’ – accepting a man's authority should not mean ceasing to have a voice in the relationship. If only one mind were doing the necessary thinking and problem-solving, the other would be superfluous.

Is the man's authority real if consent can be revoked?

In a Taken In Hand relationship, the woman wholeheartedly consents to being under the man's authority, but consent can be revoked. Does that make the authority any less real?

We're not all submissive!

Sometimes, being stuck with someone else's ill-fitting label can be a real drag. If you don't like to be labelled “submissive”, others should respect that.

A strong willed woman wanting a man to lose against

For some men, the ideal relationship would be with a strong, independent, fiesty woman... who wants an even stronger man.

It is working as advertised!

For Louise and her husband, Taken In Hand has, as it were, worked as advertised.

Have you found a proper balance?

Noone argues that to find a good balance a man has to be a tough softy.

Too much of a good thing?

Amelia has realised that when it comes to control, you can have too much of a good thing. But what is she to do now? Has she created a monster?

Can you be Taken In Hand if you're not submissive?

What is the difference between being submissive (if you're a woman) on the one hand, and being Taken In Hand on the other? Or is there any difference? It depends whom you ask!

Do you have these vital qualities women want in a man?

Glitter wants a man who has self-control and integrity – like her grandfather.

Is this really consensual?

I hope that this will extinguish any doubts anyone might have that Taken In Hand is about consensual relationships only.

How often do you have sex?

Couples in good relationships tend to be more sexually engaged with each other even in later life.

In my room

Fosti on how he sees his role as the head of his household. Not to be missed!

Is your relationship abusive?

People are often very quick to judge a relationship abusive, but sometimes they have a point. How can you judge whether there is a problem or not? And what do you do if someone else thinks that you are being abused and you think you aren't?

My marriage is a safe haven

Bramble doesn't fear her husband and nor does she want to. She is the one her husband protects, not the one he fights.

Ownership as bonding

In this beautiful piece, Noone explains why it is not unreasonable to think of the intense bonding of a monogamous relationship as being in some sense ownership.

Happy living in fear of a man?!

If you think that women who want to be a little afraid of their men must be in need of psychotherapy or chemical help, this article probably won't dispel your illusions. But if you are curious, hit the read article link now!

What Taken In Hand is, and what it is not

Taken In Hand has received a lot of flak in its time – from the accusation that we're a bunch of sick perverts, to the accusation that – well, I am not even going to repeat it, it is so vicious. Let's set the record straight here and now! Don't miss this post!

A relationship of equals

Adam's vision of a Taken In Hand relationship – a relationship of equals, with both modern and traditional elements.

Authority in a Taken In Hand relationship

Authority is the right or power to enforce rules or give orders. Many Taken In Hand readers use consensual authority to enhance their relationship.

Taken In Hand saved our marriage from doom

Baltazar (husband of CondusedofHomeCounties) talks about how they moved to a Taken In Hand relationship and how he discovered that taking his wife in hand helped stop rows getting out of hand, and may just have saved their marriage.

The difference between dominant and domineering

Domineering and subjugation are not about building, they are about tearing down.

Is there consent?

When a man takes or takes a woman in hand and she seems to be resisting and complaining, is there consent? It depends.

Do you have a commanding presence?

Do you command respect and obedience without even trying? Do you have natural authority, or would you have trouble controlling even a worm? If you don't have a commanding presence but wish you did, hit the read article link.

Is your new man dominant, domineering, or a dithering wimp?

If you are in a new relationship, or have yet to find a man, and you want to be with a man who is lovingly dominant, you might like to consider this advice.