(Guys, this one's for you – and ladies, feel free to pass it on to any guy you know in your life who's on a path toward thinking holistically about love, relationships and family.)

Lately, I've been talking to a lot of men about the idea of respect and how it's played out in their lives – from their familial structure, to their past relationships, to current love interests.

How we approach relationship and sex cannot be separated from our values about children, marriage and family (considering one primary unconscious drive is to procreate). Having stated the obvious, it’s what isn’t so obvious that I would like to help illuminate with my next book, so we as a culture are better equipped to raise healthy, thriving children, rather than continue the cycle of dysfunction we each in our own way struggle to be free of.

So men, it’s your turn to tell your version, your truth, and be honest as you think about these questions. (If you're so inclined, we would LOVE for you to email your answers – or your story, or both! - to info at maryannelive dot com. We read and respond personally to each email and I may feature you in upcoming work!)

The ideas behind these questions are good principles to start with, before considering a long-term relationship. If you're already in a committed relationship, you might learn something about yourself, your partner and the way you relate to each other based on how you answer.

1. What qualities should a woman look for in a man they want to have children with?
2. What will you never give up to be a great husband and father?
3. Do you feel women should be more willing to compromise their lives to raise children than men?
4. What do you wish your father did different in raising you?
5. What are the top three things that would make you a great husband and father?
6. What qualifies you to raise a family?
7. What scares you the most about yourself?
8. About being a dad?
9. Do you want to raise a child by yourself, if the mother of the child cannot? Do you need a woman around to raise a child?

10) Describe some of the joys (real, or imagined if you don’t have a child) of fatherhood.

As you ponder these questions – and these are only a few of the ones I've been asking the men in MY life! - here's a little feedback from men I've worked with who are asking the big questions about how they relate to the opposite sex.

In this video, one of the guys I interviewed for my book talks about what confuses him when it comes to the opposite sex!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpHbbB4OwoQ&feature=channel_page