If you like sports, skip this article.  However, if your husband or partner has his nose to the screen but it's just not your cup of tea, I have a few suggestions that may save your relationship this season. 

Here's one of the most repetitive problems that can cause damage long after the final play offs: women try to talk to their man.  Now, you wouldn’t think that could cause divorce, but it certainly can. Any time of the year, when a man is preoccupied with something (which can run the gamut of tv sitcom to radio listening sports,to staring into space), women can’t get through.

Well,actually, there is a way, but it requires specific steps.  The ordinary speaking up and saying, “Hi,” or“Can we talk?” or “I need you to take out the garbage/pick up our son,” may be hard any time, but certainly this time of year.

So, what can you do? 

He has to be unplugged from what he is watching or listening before he can even hear you.  Think about this as if his brain is an electrical cord, and has to be pulled out of one machine and stuck into another.  So, you need to unplug him from the TV in order for him to be plugged into you.

How do you do that?  Before starting with your comment or request, ask when he can be free for 10 minutes (or however long you need). Have him give you a specific time. It may be during intermission (you can tell I am not a sports fan), or at the end of the day.  If you don’t do this step first, he will not be able to hear what you are saying.  He’ll nod yes, even verbally agree, but your words will not have gotten into his brain.

This is just one of the steps listed in Why Don’t You Understand? A Gender Relationship Dictionary to help women talk with men – and feel heard.  And, while this is important all the time, men’s brains are more hard-wired during the World Series, so unplugging requires more intentional effort.

Good Luck!