Category: Basic Training

As I begin concluding my case for Better Male Friendships, I want to encourage wives to support their husbands and his male friends. Over the years, I’ve seen too many guys feel guilty (or made to feel bad) for taking time away from their families to be with friends. However, I actually believe that most wives want their husbands to have better friendships. This post supports my theory that spending time with high-quality men helps us become better husbands, fathers, and men. Men Need Male Friends Throughout this series, I’ve written about the epidemic of loneliness, especially among men. Some guys say they have a few really good friends, but statistics show most have none. Recent studies show that 57% of men report feeling lonely. Another shows 15% of men claim to have no close friends at all. Yes, that’s right, no one knows them well enough to know when

As I conclude this 3-part set of posts on Opposite Gender Friendships, I will provide additional guidance on friendships with females, specifically whether your wife should be your “best” friend. In part 1, I suggested that mixed-gender friendships serve different purposes for men than for women. We have different needs and communication styles that risk sexual attraction. For that reason alone, we must be cautious with any male-female relationships outside of marriage.  In part 2, I gave a brief history of male-female friendships. I also suggested that men need women in their lives as much as women need men. With diverse relationships, men especially learn how to balance our masculine and feminine sides in ways that help us become better men, husbands, fathers, and friends. In this final post, I wrap this subset up with guidance on your relationship with your wife. Why Men Need Male Friendships While making my