Plate Spinners

Plate Spinning!

That’s how we roll guys.  As women we have a list of tasks that we are always accomplishing. God has wired us in such a way that we are multi-talented. We can be on the phone, making dinner and checking homework.

For our husbands, we want to be your love kitten but we really have to unload mentally and one by one let these mental tasks of laundry, grocery shopping, bill paying and job requirements start to dissipate and then we can start feeling a little romantic.

What Women Need

I heard our local radio show state that women required 20 minutes more sleep than men. I don’t even need to say that they got my attention. It gets better. They then went on to stay that a woman’s brain was more complex and this was precisely why she needed some more zzzz’s.

I can understand this and sense the Alpha males getting offended at this point. What do you mean more complex? I could hear the questions flying off the lips of men as they were on their way to work. I can understand them feeling insulted, I mean, you guys rock and all but hear me out for a moment…

Most men if they are honest will laugh about the complexity of a woman’s thought process. I certainly do. We have the ability to think things to death. Especially the emotional things.

The Male Brain

Guys. I love you because you are usually cut and dry. You don’t need all the details and generally don’t give a million details like we do. This theory of the male brain can be a place of solace for me.

However, I am all girl, and God has called me to work and minister to women. I get us. We get us and have lengthy conversations about you getting “us.”

I do counseling at times so long-suffering and patience is required. Hurting women need to get their words out and to be heard.

The Female Brain

In your defense guys, we are quirky creatures waiting on the moment of your arrival from work to start spilling our word requirements for the day. You gently smile and nod as we drive you into the desert mentally, you graciously interject the necessary reactions.

Sometimes, in mid sentence we see you drifting mentally but with a swift pull we can bring you back. When you throw in the “ No, she didn’t.” about our girlfriends situation then and only then do we know you are tracking with our brains and the conversation.

Fully satisfied with our 10,000 words poured out on you, we then ask, “How was your day?” Your response, “Fine.” Fine?Just fine? We need details. details. details.

Once you have given us a few thousand words we are fine. Guys are pretty cut and dry. When they say fine they mean it. They don’t find it necessary to go into insignificant details about a “fine day.”  Girls on the other hand do, and will, so you must buckle your seat belts. It could be a lengthy, wild ride.  Sorry guys, blame it on Eve.

The Nothing Box

I have a compassion for men because of our complexity.

I get their need to “be with the guys”. They need to go to their “nothing box”.

The “ nothing box” is that place in their brain where “nothing” is happening. I think we could benefit from this, ladies.

If you ask a guy the question, “What are you thinking?” and their response is “Nothing”, do them a favor and believe them. They mean it. We don’t think they do because we cannot fathom that because we are always thinking something. We don’t even own a “Nothing box.” There is always something stirring around up there guys.

The Love Tank

My husband loves food. He loves to ask me at every meal what the next meal is gonna be. My response a lot of times is “I haven’t gotten that far yet.” He anticipates the next meal and gets his appetite prepped for it.

This is precisely how women are emotionally and conversationally. Our love tank gets full when we can get our words out and you comfort us emotionally. We can tend to get overwhelmed due to way too much plate spinning.

I love that my husband is comfortable in his skin. He is a fan of women and how much we can accomplish with our plate spinning skills. When women feel understood, we are much more capable of relaxing and easing ourselves into a romantic night. When exhausted and spent, not so much.

Task Sharing and Plate Spinning

Task sharing and plate spinning isn’t overwhelming when we are working as a team and truly being considerate of each other’s needs. Knowing yourself well and your own limitations can help you preserve you and your relationship.

Making sure you are not lost at the expense of being everything to everyone is priority so that you can bring your best you out. Ladies, sometimes it’s necessary to drop some plates to replenish yourself physically, spiritually and relationally. Their will always be plates to pick up, so make sure that you choose you too.

Proverbs 14:1
The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pull it down with her hands.

Be wise with your words and your tasks, allow your lifestyle to build your life and home up and not deplete it.

Ecclesiastes 11:
Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days, Give a serving to seven and also to eight, for you do not know what evil will be on earth.

Be discerning about what time energy and tasks you give yourself too. Don’t give your investments and energy to everything and then give your spouse all your leftovers.

There is a reason why the flight attendant says to give yourself oxygen first in the event of a crash. Self-depletion never helped you or anyone else. Be kind to yourself and stay charged up by not over committing and spinning to many plates and above all take that extra 20 minutes of sleep.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.