What Mums Want (and Dads Need to Know)

"Many married men find themselves shocked and surprised when their wife tells them she wants a divorce a few years after kids come along. This scenario is provocatively and powerfully explained by this book. More importantly, Kate and Harry Benson explain how married fathers can renew their marriages when their wives are leaning towards leaving. Every dad should read this book." -- W Bradford Wilcox, Director of the National Marriage Project, University of Virginia, and Senior Fellow, Institute for Family Studies I love you but you just dont seem interested in in me. With those few words Kate and Harry Benson began a journey that eventually led to this book. Over many years I have found their story a true inspiration. -- Rob Parsons, OBE, author of The Sixty Minute Father "Once picked up, this fantastic book just won't let you put it down! Harry and Kate have successfully combined real life experiences including ,very honestly ,their own with hard earned wisdom and plenty of practical tips to help us strengthen the most special relationships in our lives, whatever age or stage we're at." -- Fiona Bruce MP We have known Harry and Kate for many years. They are the real deal. Having rescued their marriage from the brink, they write with great honesty and give sound, practical advice, backed up by the latest research, that will give hope to many couples who can't see a way forward. Everyone will enjoy and benefit from this book, but for some it will be life-changing. -- Nicky and Sila Lee, authors of The Marriage Course This book has so much for couples to grab hold of to give them hope for the future: great stories that ooze with optimism seamlessly interwoven with important research findings that make mincemeat of the myth that the breakdown of marriage and relationships is inevitable. Most importantly Harry and Kate are super-practical about what to look for when you are looking for help. Read this whatever the State of your Union. -- Dr Samantha Callan, former advisor to David Cameron on Family and Society Since we can't all have Harry and Kate as our own private love guidance gurus, we will have to make do with this super book, which is really practical and immensely readable reading it is like breathing fresh air. -- Richard and Maria Kane, founders of Marriage Week International

Harry Benson is one of Britains leading champions for marriage. As research director for Marriage Foundation, his findings are routinely cited in the media and by politicians and have made front page news on several occasions. Harry has spent the last twenty years researching, writing and teaching about marriage and family. Harry is the author of Commit or Quit, What Mums Want (and Dads Need to Know), Let's Stick Together, and Mentoring Marriages.

Contents Foreword 9 Acknowledgments 11 Introduction 13 Chapter One Dear mum 16 Chapter Two Dear dad 24 Chapter Three It wasnt meant to be like this 34 Chapter Four For the sake of the children? 47 Chapter Five Happy wife, happy life 65 Chapter Six What mums want 87 Chapter Seven Learning to love 109 Chapter Eight For better, for worse 129 Chapter Nine I love you and want to be close to you 143 Chapter Ten Back from the brink 162 Chapter Eleven Wise friends 174 Appendix 192 Notes 201