Understand

as in

"I want us to understand each other."

Variations: "I want you to understand me ... I want to understand you ... I want you to understand."

That’s fair, isn’t it? No one starts out intentionally to misunderstand some one else, do they? Admittedly, that’s what often happens. She says “I’d like to do something nice on the weekend” and you say, ”Fine, let’s watch footie” - bang, you’ve got a misunderstanding.

But neither of you provoked it intentionally. You both agree on that. What she has in mind when she pleads to be understood, to understand, is something more serious. She’s talking about laying down some tough ground rules, guidelines to take you through the dark forest known as the future.

It’s a noble aspiration. It would be magnificent if it could succeed. If you two could
simply settle the next few decades with a few minutes chat.

But experience shows that it is hard enough finding the consensus to get through one Saturday afternoon without friction, let alone years.

Still, it’s probably best to pretend to go along with the attempt. It shouldn’t take too long if you nod your head regularly - so you may yet have time to get out to the match.