Sheryl Sandberg on Marriage

I read Lean In and like so many other people, I really enjoyed it. I was sorry to hear about the sudden death of author Sheryl Sandberg's husband. One of my favorite sections in her book was advice on who to date and who to marry:

When looking for a life partner, my advice to women is date of all of them: the bad boys, the cool boys, the commitment-phobic boys, the crazy boys. But do not marry them. The things that make the bad boys sexy do not make them good husbands. When it comes to settling down, find someone who wants an equal partner. Someone who thinks women should be smart, opinionated and ambitious. Someone who values fairness and expects or, even better, wants to do his share in the home. These men exist and, trust me, over time, nothing is sexier.

I have a weakness for bad boys and reading her words back then was a gentle reminder of what I want in a husband. It also reminded me of something my favorite mentor told me back in college--don't marry a man if I wouldn't be proud to have sons exactly like him. Equally good advice.

Her hubs was only 47 and they were a classic power couple. So little time together--that is sobering. Condolences to the family.