“Making your husband feel appreciated is an essential part of having a good marriage.”
Having been married for nearly 20 years, one thing I can say for certain is that men need love too.
In fact, studies suggest that when it comes to relationships—men need to feel seen, supported, appreciated, admired, and attractive—just as much as women do.
It’s the month of February, which means that people will soon begin celebrating love and romance all over the world. But as we all know, marriage is a lifelong commitment. And it’s important to celebrate the person you love every day.
With this in mind, I’ve been thinking about all the little ways I like to express love towards my husband—such as cooking his favorite meals, showing interest in the things he likes, and preparing his favorite homemade hair rinse before he shampoos. It’s often the little things we do in our relationships that matter the most…
Since every woman loves differently (and every man receives love differently), I talked to 10 of my dearest friends to find out how they express love in their relationships. They shared with me the simple-but-loving things they do to make their husbands feel appreciated on a regular basis.
As someone who’s constantly striving to be a better wife, I felt truly inspired by what my friends shared with me. Here’s what they had to say!
- “My husband is an entrepreneur, and that in and of itself can be stressful. When he has a really long day, I’ll write a small note on the bathroom mirror with a dry erase marker. The note may read, “welcome home” or “I love you.” His clothes and fresh towels will be ready on the bathroom counter, so that he doesn’t have to think about it. It’s a small but thoughtful gesture to let him know that I appreciate him.” (Nicole Leakey, realtor)
- “To make my husband feel appreciated, I make sure to celebrate him with new experiences, especially concerning the things he loves. For instance, he had never been to the AT&T Stadium (and he LOVES the Dallas Cowboys!). So on his birthday, we toured the entire stadium. We spent the entire day there and attended the Cowboys game the next day. He said it was the best birthday EVER!!! He doesn’t celebrate himself or do much for himself. He puts himself last—so I make sure to put him first. I’ve introduced him to several new experiences, including spa days. Now, he loves a good massage!” (Monique Cocroft-White, loving wife and educator)
- “When it comes to showing my husband how much I appreciate him, I make sure to consider his love languages. They are words of affirmation and physical touch. So, I make sure to tell him that he’s doing a wonderful job and have meaningful conversations with him. I give him hugs and kisses when I pass by him. I even hold his hand in the car. By showing him love in the ways he prefers, I’m able to communicate better with him. This makes him feel appreciated.” (Nicole Pocklington, creator of Behind the Classroom)
- “When my husband comes home from work, regardless of how crazy my day has been, I make sure he has time to decompress. I ask if he needs to do anything for himself before I ask him to do anything for me. Honestly, I try not to ask him for anything at all when he gets home. But if I do need his help, I try to wait for him to do what he needs for himself first. I give him time to ask HOW can he help, rather than launching a list at him right away.” (Melissa Smith, a godly wife)
“In terms of my marriage, you know, falling in love with my husband was by far the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Caroline Kennedy
- “My favorite way to make my husband feel appreciated is to run his bath for him after a long day of work, so that he can soak and relax after dinner.” (Nathania Archer, loving wife and mompreneur)
- “To make my husband feel appreciated, I make the effort to love him in his love language. He likes words of affirmation and physical touch. So I leave him little notes around the house and give him random kisses and snuggles.” (Mika Benford, mentor coach at Mommiversity)
- “I speak specifically to my husband’s integrity and his work ethic. I often tell him how much I appreciate, respect, and value everything he does for our family.” (Tandy Allison, midlife pharmacist)
- “I let my husband know he looks amazing. I give my love spontaneous massages, make fabulous desserts and meals, and offer him space to enjoy his sports time.” (Queen, wellness coach)
- “One thing that makes my husband feel appreciated is affection. He loves rubs, kisses, cuddles, and quality time. Simply telling him that I love him makes him feel special. He expresses his appreciation during these moments.” (Roche’ Hall, life coach at Lyfinche)
- “I decided to ask my husband what I do to make him feel appreciated—because he would know better than me. He said that I encourage him. I thought food made him feel loved and appreciated. But apparently, not as much as me encouraging him, lol.” (Darlene Bennet-Hass, loving wife and encourager)
If you’re married or in a committed relationship, I hope this list inspires you on your journey… The truth is, our men are strong. But they, too, have emotional needs. Making our husbands feel validated and appreciated is vital for their happiness and self-esteem.
Now tell me, what do you do to make your husband or partner feel appreciated? Share your tips in the comments!
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