As you might expect, I agree with the 10/22 or marlin suggestion for a woman.
As for the rest, women are different creatures and will see things differently as well as react differently. I'm not real big on the telling a woman about the submission angle. My wife's first husband did that. She says now that he used that and the Bible as a weapon against her. (How the hell he turned so liberal beats the hell out of me.)
I think if you're being a man verses playing at being a man that the subject doesn't come up. A man will naturally lead and a woman will naturally follow him. It may not sit well with politically correct thought but it is the way men and women are built. Not to say they won't disagree or bitch at you about stuff. That's just what they do and it's actually a good thing.
It gives you an indication of where their head is. (There aren't many other good ways for a man to figure out a woman's head.) They think in a different manner, with emotions, wants, sensitivity, and a whole slew of body chemicals I don't understand mixed in.
You need to have your woman's back. Support her in what she is interested in and tries to do. Never say something she does or says is stupid.(Even if it is.
) Women have to talk and communicate. Try to listen to her. It can be hard sometimes because they talk about things that are important to them that you have no interest in. But try. I do it by looking for the little girl inside the woman, she usually shows up. She's really sweet and innocent and she makes me love the woman even more.
When I first started prepping my wife was all about why are we wasting money on this stuff. I told her,
"Baby, I'm a man, and more importantly to me, I'm your man. I don't know what lies ahead, or what all of the things that are happening will lead to. I do know that they are on my mind and they worry me. Because my main responsibility, as your man, is to take care of you, protect you, and make sure you are safe. I don't know if any of these things that worry me will happen, they look like they could. And I know that I will have to step up to protect you and do what I'm supposed to do. So I'm trying to get ready as best I can because I love you. I'm worried about how I'm going to take care of my responsibility to you if the world around us crumbles. I don't know all of the things I will need in order to be able to do that. Could you help me?"
It worked, she helps me and has provided insight I would have never have thought of.
Note: The "playing at being a man" thing wasn't an insult aimed at anyone. For years I played at being a man. I thought at the time that because I was tough, was strong, and could fight, that made me a man. I had a do what I say because I'm the man attitude. Turns out I still had a lot to learn. Everyone does.
Hang in there!
