Twenty weeks ago, I started “Brag On Him Fridays” kind of on a whim. I’ve always wanted this column to be encouraging for married and soon-to-be married women and I’ve always tried to make sure that there was no man bashing on here.

A few weeks after “Brag On Him” got off the ground, I came across a post from Backpacking Dad that really spoke to what it is I’m hoping to accomplish with this weekly meme. This meme may seem sentimental and sweet and to some, a bit sappy, but what Shawn says in his post gets to the heart of why I want us to do this:

And here is the heart of this piece: I want you, ladies, to stop writing about how hilariously incompetent your husband was that day when you left him with the kids. I want you to stop writing about how pissed off you were that he couldn’t even make toast for the kids and let you sleep in for an extra half hour on the weekend. Even if it’s true the telling of stories like that, and the seeking out of like-minded women who can shake their heads ruefully with you, is a magnificent obstacle to the increase in Immersed Fathers. It is subtle misandry, misogyny’s dance partner, and it is an obstacle to the very balance and equality that would help you to never feel that kind of superiority, disappointment, and anger ever again. It is an obstacle to the creation of a class of men who collaborate with you to change social and economic structures that will result in gender equality and improved work-life balance. Think about the converse situation, in which men would congregate to laugh about the sad attempts of the newly “liberated” women to operate in a man’s world. Did it, does it, happen? Yes, I’m certain of it. But it is not something to be tolerated, and it is certainly not something to be lauded.

The whole post is amazing, I encourage you to read it all.

On this column, we look at things in marriage from the perspective of how we, as wives, can improve our relationships from our side. I am the only person in my marriage that I can truly change, you are the only person in your marriage that you can truly change. This weekly meme helps us, helps me, live out the Golden Rule with that man to whom we pledged to spend the rest of our lives.

I am thoroughly encouraged by how “Brag On Him” has taken off! The e-mails and comments I get from you telling me how much you like it and that you want to submit blog links or essays or lists has been a tremendous blessing. Thank you to all you have contributed! I can’t wait to see what the coming weeks bring.

E-mail me at malia@blissfullydometic.com if you like to “Brag On Him”, tell us how your husband ROCKS!