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Friday, October 13, 2006
Rebecca Hagelin :: Townhall.com Columnist
Learning from Mr and Mrs Happy
by Rebecca Hagelin
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If, like millions of TV viewers, you start your day with “Fox & Friends,” you know how entertaining and funny co-host Steve Doocy can be. But did you know that he can even help you with your marriage and family life?

No, Steve is not a board-certified therapist, and he’s not available for housecalls. But he has written a great new book, “The Mr. & Mrs. Happy Handbook,” that I can pretty much guarantee will leave you a little wiser -- and give you a lot to laugh at along the way (which makes it a lot like “Fox & Friends,” come to think of it).

But wait, you may be saying, what qualifies Doocy to dispense marital and family advice? Believe me, he knows whereof he speaks. He’s been married to “Mrs. Happy” (a.k.a. Kathy) for 20 years, and the two of them have three children. And by the end of “The Mr. & Mrs. Happy Handbook,” you’ll see they’ve gone through more than their share of family mishaps and misadventures -- all of which, Steve points out, you can learn from.

For example: Guys, do you know how to handle that classic trick question that wives like to spring -- namely, “Do I look fat in these pants?” As Steve notes, “there is but one simple answer that will lead to a long and happy marriage: ‘No habla ingles’ (translation: ‘I don’t speak English’). By the time she translates and realizes that she’s now mad at you for not answering her question, you’re off the hook. She’s forgotten about her tight pants.”

Then there’s the age-old question of how to fight with your spouse. Steve’s been there, and he has this to say:

“Survival of the fittest is clear; if you’re in a fight, you should fight to win. However, this is not Ali versus Frazier, it’s you versus your loved one. Here’s the problem with fighting dirty. We all keep tucked away in our heads a file of embarrassingly hideous mistakes our spouse has made throughout history. As soon as we whip out one of those gems, all bets are off. That argument will disintegrate into name-calling, hurt feelings and torrents of tears. Think Hannity & Colmes, with streaked mascara.”

And if you’re buying your wife clothes? For heaven’s sake, guys, listen to Steve, who learned the hard way that you should always buy a smaller size than you think she needs:

“Once I bought my wife a winter coat for Christmas. I didn’t want to ask her what size she was in a coat, because I didn’t want to tip her off. It was really nice, and it looked like it was about her size.

“So I got her an 18.

“Turns out it was six sizes too big. Continued...

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About The Author

Rebecca Hagelin, a vice president of The Heritage Foundation is the author of Home Invasion: Protecting Your Family in a Culture that's Gone Stark Raving Mad and runs the Web site HomeInvasion.org.

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Subject: Do I look fat?
A co-worker of mine once told me that his wife once asked him that dreaded question.

His reply: "Your @$$ was fat when I met you, it was fat when I married you, and it's still fat."

When she got offended, he pointed out to her that if he didn't like it, he'd have let her know. Once she thought about it for a while, she accepted it... and never asked again.

Honey, do I look fat...?
'For example: Guys, do you know how to handle that classic trick question that wives like to spring -- namely, “Do I look fat in these pants?” '

It's at this point I start hearing the shrill violins from the Psycho shower scene. I look at her and say "No right answer

My ex never asked, because she knew she did, so I was spared.
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