1 00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: All right, guys, time now for today's Strawberry Letter. And 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:07,720 Speaker 1: if you need advice on relationships, sex, work, dating, parenting, 3 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:10,960 Speaker 1: and more, please submit your Strawberry Letter to Steve HARVEYFM 4 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: dot com and click submit Strawberry Letter. Here it is. 5 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:18,080 Speaker 1: We could be reading yours live on the air, just 6 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 1: like we're gonna read this one right here, right now, 7 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: and you never know it could be yours. You never know. 8 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: Buckle up and hold on tight. We got it for 9 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 1: you here. It is the Strawberry Letter. Thank you, nephew. 10 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: Subject turning a hood dude into a husband. Dear Stephen Shirley. 11 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 1: I'm a thirty year old engaged female and my fiance 12 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: is thirty four years old. I work as a school 13 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 1: administrator and he is a mechanic. We met when he 14 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:46,239 Speaker 1: fixed my flat tire and then offered to detail my 15 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 1: car for free. He is a tall, thin man with 16 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: pearly white teeth and a nice throw. I could tell 17 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: he was a hood dude the minute I saw him, 18 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 1: and that's what attracted me to him. He played basketball 19 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: at a commune Unity center and he invited me to 20 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:04,480 Speaker 1: a game. He was bawling on the court and I 21 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 1: was very turned on by him. We made love later 22 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 1: on that day and we've been inseparable since then. He 23 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 1: was rough in bed and cursed a lot initially during sex, 24 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: but he is more romantic now. After we dated for 25 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: almost two years, he got a little diamond ring and 26 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: he proposed. Then. That's when everything got tricky because I 27 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 1: never admitted to my friends and family that he is 28 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: my man. They thought he was just my maintenance man 29 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 1: and just for sex until I found mister Wright. They 30 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 1: know I like edgy guys, but not this edgy. He 31 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:43,319 Speaker 1: curses a whole lot, he uses slang, and he calls 32 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: everybody the N word. He is very well known in 33 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 1: the neighborhood he grew up in, and he's still living 34 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 1: in the house he grew up in. I would never 35 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 1: try to change him, but I did ask him about 36 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 1: getting a ged so he could advance in his career. 37 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: He said he's going to take over the shop when 38 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: the owner retires, and he doesn't need a gged for that. 39 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 1: He is content where he is in life, so I 40 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: try not to push him. I plan to take him 41 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:13,639 Speaker 1: on trips to other countries so he can see there 42 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: is more to life than his hood and the auto shop. 43 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:20,359 Speaker 1: Some days I love him unconditionally and on the other 44 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: days I feel embarrassed by him. Can I turn this 45 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: hood dude into a good husband? Or am I wasting 46 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 1: my time? Please advise? See right there, for you to 47 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 1: even have to ask that question, there's a problem. And 48 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 1: you know the number one rule, ladies. We cannot change them. 49 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:41,920 Speaker 1: We can only change ourselves. If there's to be a 50 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 1: change in him, he'll have to want to do that change. 51 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 1: He'll have to want to do it for you or 52 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 1: just want to do it on his own. And second, 53 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 1: if this is who you love and want to be 54 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: with your grown and you don't have to explain him 55 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: to your friends and family who think he's a maintenance 56 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 1: man and not your man. But some days you say 57 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 1: you love him unconditionally and other days you're embarrassed by him. Well, 58 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: that's a problem. That's not good. Okay. You're supposed to 59 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: be happy with him, you know, and proud to be 60 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 1: with him, all of that. You've accepted him for who 61 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: he is right now. But marriage, marriage is a whole 62 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 1: different situation because you're going to grow in marriage, you know, 63 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: and in life of course, you know there's going to 64 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:29,359 Speaker 1: be changed. You don't want to grow apart. You don't 65 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 1: want to drift apart because of these differences. You're a 66 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: school administrator. He's a mechanic who can but won't get 67 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 1: his geed, who could make a big difference in his life. 68 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: He could could go take him further in life. I'm 69 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: assuming you may. You may use a little profanity at times, 70 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: but nothing like him, who you say curses a lot, 71 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: and you mentioned that a couple of times in the letters, 72 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: so that you know that kind of bothers you. He 73 00:03:55,080 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: calls everyone the in word everyone the word. Come on, 74 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 1: these are problems. You said he still lives in the 75 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 1: house that he grew up in. Now does that mean 76 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 1: he lives with his mom because you did not put 77 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 1: that in the letter, but in the house he grew 78 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 1: up and he grew up with his parents. So you 79 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 1: guys already have problems, and I guarantee you marriage will 80 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 1: complicate this situation even further. I don't think you two 81 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 1: are ready for marriage because you're too unequally yoked right now. 82 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: It has nothing to do with him being edgy or 83 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: from the hood. It's just that he doesn't want to 84 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:30,719 Speaker 1: better himself and you want much more. You said it 85 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 1: in your letter. That's going to frustrate you, irritate you, 86 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 1: and your word embarrass you. So right now I say 87 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 1: continue dating and don't jump the broom. Steve. See this letter, 88 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 1: it just reminds me of me. I just I ain't 89 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:52,359 Speaker 1: really I ain't really bothered by this. You know it's 90 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 1: thirty year old engage female and fiance is thirty. Folks, 91 00:04:56,600 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 1: you work as a school administrator, Heil McKenny. We met, 92 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 1: he fixed your flat tie. Then what the man did 93 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:13,159 Speaker 1: was offered to detail it free, right down homeboy working. 94 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 1: Then he detailed your car free, tall thin, pearly white teeth, 95 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:24,479 Speaker 1: nice afro. Now you said at the time you could 96 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:28,600 Speaker 1: tell he was a hood dude, but that's what attracted 97 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 1: you to hell. Okay, so what his attraction was he 98 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:40,159 Speaker 1: hood dude with your little quote unquote school administrate her self. 99 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: So now let the fund begin. He do what a 100 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:49,480 Speaker 1: hood dude dude? He played basketball down at the center, 101 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 1: invited you to come see the game. If I can't 102 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 1: do nothing, I can volve, I'm gonna let her come 103 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: down here. And then you said, on that day he 104 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 1: was holy. He came and he flex shot his best shot. 105 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 1: Now he was crazy. Right after y'all started bawling, y'all 106 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: made loud that day. All it took was a couple 107 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 1: of jumpers. Yeah, she was turned on. All he did 108 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 1: a couple of score some baskets. You passing it out? Oh? 109 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 1: He passing the ball? You say my turn? All right, 110 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 1: Hold on, Steve, hold that I passed two. We'll have 111 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 1: part two of Steve's response coming up at twenty three 112 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 1: minutes after the hour. Strawberry Letters, subject today turning a 113 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 1: hood dude into a husband. We'll get back into it 114 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:56,160 Speaker 1: right after this. You're listening Steve Harvey Morning Show. All right, 115 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:59,160 Speaker 1: come on, Steve, Let's recap today Strawberry letter. The subject 116 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:03,360 Speaker 1: turning a hood dude into a husband A little thirty 117 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 1: ye old school administrative at the thirty four Ye gonta dude. 118 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 1: That's a mechanic. He fixed a car down that in 119 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 1: detailing for free or she liked him. She could recognize 120 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: fact he was a hood boy, but that's what attracted her. 121 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 1: He invited her to the basketball game. He played wood 122 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,760 Speaker 1: down at through Center on that weekend. She came and 123 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 1: homeboy with balling. I'm talking about bawling, letting them men 124 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 1: all this hell. That turned her on. So right after that, 125 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: later on that day they made Look, I mean, what 126 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 1: you supposed to do after a good game. You know 127 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 1: you're here, you know we got time do get nothing. 128 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 1: Let's get on, get back in the same you was bawling, 129 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 1: you kept passing the ball. Let me pass you something, okay. 130 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: And then she says after that they were in separable. 131 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:04,160 Speaker 1: Now he was rough in bed, and he cussed a 132 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 1: lot initially doing sex. Well, you know, the first one, 133 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: you know it's gonna be some cussom, you know, and 134 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 1: then he probably cuss a lot anywhere. I'm a customer, 135 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 1: so I know for that first time that brings out 136 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 1: some cussing because you, first of all, you can't believe 137 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 1: you there, And it's just it's a form of expression. 138 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 1: Customis of you know, a lot of adjectives in there 139 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 1: that can be used in various places. See, custom is 140 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 1: a very limited vocabulary. It's only I don't know, maybe 141 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:35,680 Speaker 1: I think it's maybe twelve cuss words. You know, I 142 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 1: use the top four all the time. But it sad, 143 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 1: but these cuss words mean different things at different times. 144 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 1: You know, you know, all hell now can be applied 145 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 1: a lot of different ways, so you Scott to know it. 146 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 1: So he doesn't have a large vocabulary. But the custom 147 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 1: doing sex is all hell. Now, man, I can't believe 148 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 1: in hellboard is a good I'm feeling something. Oh y'all go, 149 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:04,040 Speaker 1: it's teeling and all this, say all this producers because 150 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: but let's move on. But now he's yeah, he's remote romantic. 151 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: Now now y'all been dating for two years. He got 152 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 1: a little diamond ring and he propossed you. Say, that's 153 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: what it got tricky because I knew you had never 154 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:22,439 Speaker 1: admitted to your friends and family that he was your man. See, 155 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 1: they thought he was your maintenance man for sex until 156 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 1: I found mister Wright. So that's see this your fault. 157 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 1: See this the little this, the little image you tried 158 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: to portray. I'm just doing him just to be doing something, girl, 159 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: But you didn't want to admit you was in love 160 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 1: with your brother. See in all of this latter right here, 161 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 1: you know what I see, I see a good man. 162 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 1: But now let's talk about this. They know you like 163 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: edgy guys, but not this edgy what you mean, not 164 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 1: this edge just the one that asked you to marry it? 165 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,599 Speaker 1: What you mean you don't like him, this edgy, this 166 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 1: one that didn't proposed to you. What you mean you 167 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 1: don't like him? This edgy? This one then lasted two years. See, 168 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 1: you got to quit line to yourself because it's really 169 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: a good dude. Now here we go. He cusses a 170 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 1: whole lot, he uses slang, and he called everybody the 171 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:32,520 Speaker 1: N word. So we do what And I am very 172 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 1: familiar with this line in the letter right here, he 173 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 1: cusses a lot, he uses slang. He called everybody the 174 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 1: N word. Now I don't call everybody inn word. But 175 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 1: if you're my dude, though, I'm gonna just keep it 176 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:51,679 Speaker 1: real with you. But now if you ain't my dude, 177 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:58,760 Speaker 1: and you ain't black stepped light, but I never used 178 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 1: I never use that a people that's not in my circle. 179 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:05,079 Speaker 1: So if you said to me, please understand, the reaction 180 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:09,560 Speaker 1: will be swift and severe. He is very well known 181 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 1: in the neighborhood he grew up in. I'm telling you 182 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: on the rail and were now fit to play? Okay, 183 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 1: he is very well known in the neighborhood he grew 184 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 1: up in, and he's still living in the house he 185 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 1: grew up in. Well, that don't mean he stayed with 186 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:25,600 Speaker 1: his mama. That just means that's the houses Mom and 187 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 1: Nel grew up in, and he bought it. He got 188 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: the house. I don't think he lived with his mama never. 189 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 1: I would never try to change him. But I did 190 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 1: ask him about getting the GD so he can advance 191 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:40,480 Speaker 1: in his career. He said, he taking over the shop 192 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 1: with the ownery time. He don't need no damn GD 193 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 1: for that. That's his plan. Now. He's content where he 194 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:51,199 Speaker 1: is in life. So I try not to push him. Well, see, 195 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 1: now that's where you come in as a woman. Women 196 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 1: do find a way to help push and motivate it. 197 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:02,680 Speaker 1: Ain't push your motivation. You can find a way to 198 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 1: motivate him. Now. See this is why I note we 199 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 1: all the way in. I plan to take him on 200 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 1: trips to other countries so he can see theres more 201 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:13,679 Speaker 1: to life than his hood and the auto shop. Now, 202 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 1: listen to me, don't do that. Don't don't do that, 203 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:20,560 Speaker 1: take his ass out to country. I'm gonna tell you 204 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:22,599 Speaker 1: this right now, y'all gonna wind up. You've seen the 205 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: show locked up abroad, get your ass in that situation here. 206 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 1: Listen to me. You can't take his ass out of 207 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:34,239 Speaker 1: the country. Best place you can take his ass is Vegas. 208 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 1: He can go to Venice out there. He can go 209 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:40,679 Speaker 1: to Italy out there, and he can go to New York. 210 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:43,600 Speaker 1: You can go right on the strip and visit two places. 211 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 1: You can go New York. You can go to Paris 212 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:49,439 Speaker 1: and you can go to Venice. You can go that. 213 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 1: Don't take his ass out to country, y'all. Ass is 214 00:12:53,400 --> 00:13:00,119 Speaker 1: gonna be locked up abroad and don my remarks today. 215 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 1: Post your comments on Today's Strawberry Letter at Steve Harvey FM, 216 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:08,239 Speaker 1: on Instagram and Facebook. Check out the Strawberry Letter podcast 217 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:11,320 Speaker 1: on demand coming up at forty six minutes after the hour, 218 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 1: our girl Cheryl Underwood. Right after this, you're listening to 219 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:17,679 Speaker 1: this Name Harvey Morning Show