Women, don't you hate it when you feel like you're dragging your family to the shopping mall? There's the pouting, stomping of feet, crying, moping about...

... and the kids are even worse. But let's focus on the men in your life for a moment. Yep, women - some of you have the unfortunate task of taking unwilling men to the mall with you.

Why take them at all?

Well, you probably feel a little safer when someone's with you, you can ask their opinions on purchases, but most of all - they can carry all of the bags, leaving your hands free to examine the merchandise.

Taking your husband or boyfriend doesn't have to be unpleasant for either of you. You can make it a Win-Win situation.

Here's the secret: Like most successful ventures, it takes planning. A few minutes spent planning can potentially save you hours of wandering around. To start the planning process, you have to figure out which shopping malls have stores that men would like.

Here are our top six suggestions for stores that men like:

" Brookstone
" Champs Sports
" Dick's Sporting Goods
" Radio Shack
" Sharper Image
" Sears (Tools!)

Men are just big kids. We still like toys, albeit maybe a little more expensive. So when you need to go to the shopping center mall, find one with one or more of the six stores listed above. Then, you can let your man know what's in it for him.

I picture it going something like this; you say, "Honey, why don't we go to Sears over at the mall, so you can get that new socket set you wanted?"

You both go to Sears and get that new socket set and your man is one happy camper. Then you casually mention, "Y'know, since we're here, would you mind if I look for some shoes to go with that new outfit I bought?"

Still euphoric from his newly-acquired socket set, your man will undoubtedly agree.

While you're looking at shoes, your husband/boyfriend can munch on a warm sesame seed pretzel with cheese dipping sauce. For men, it doesn't get much better than that - new tools and a warm, delicious snack. You've made his day.

And you got those new shoes, plus a matching handbag -- a Win-Win all the way around.

Planning - that's the secret to taking your man to the mall.

by Steve Moreland