Simone: It's so common that women define themselves as successful if they can be a good mummy and wife (which is fantastic) yet their men fail to consider themselves successful by being good daddys and husbands. It's like it's not enough for them. Sometimes you just need to put this on their radar. Ask them: "How important is it to you that you are a good dad and husband?" They will probably respond that "of course it's important" but when you calmly point out the disparity between their actions and their words it occasionally starts to gel in their minds that they are being inconsistent. The key word there is "calmly" you never want to turn this type of conversation into an argument because it will totally take the focus away from what you are saying. If you stay calm they can't wiggle out the the conversation or have an excuse to storm off (and thus avoid continuing it). So if my DH had done what yours did i would have approached him and said "I know you don't mean to make me feel like a slave, but when you leave your plate lying around I feel pretty demotivated". Just an idea... seems to work with me.... much more sucessful than nagging.

ok... I gotta stop lecturing... what's with me today??? LOL