Men love compliments too.
They might not always react the way women do, but that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy hearing nice things about themselves.
I’ve been married for a decade, and I’ve learned that you shouldn’t assume your spouse knows everything you appreciate about them.
Sometimes you have to say it out loud.
And I’m not talking about flattering him to get him to do something for you.
I’m talking about genuine compliments.
Of course, men are different, and what makes one man smile might not mean much to another.
But I think most husbands would be happy to hear at least a few of these from their wife:
“I’m so proud of the man you are.”
Two days ago, when I sent my husband the link to my latest article, he replied after reading and said, “You are born to write.”
I’ve been married to this man for a decade, yet that compliment made my day.
There’s just something special about being admired by someone who knows you very well.
Your wife has seen you at your best and your worst. She knows you’re not perfect.
So when she tells you she’s proud of the man you are, it means a lot.
As women, we shouldn’t reserve this compliment for when our husbands achieve something big.
Yes, it’s lovely to tell your husband you’re proud of him when he gets promoted or achieves a major goal.
But what about his character?
Maybe he’s generous or responsible; these are things worth admiring.
We sometimes focus so much on what men achieve that we forget to appreciate who they are.
If your husband is a good man, tell him you’re proud of that.
“You look so handsome!”
Who said only women enjoy being told they’re good-looking?
Your husband wants to feel attractive too!
You don’t have to wait until he’s wearing a three-piece suit or dressing up for a special occasion.
Sometimes, he’s just standing in front of the mirror getting ready for work.
You can look at him and say, “Babe, you’re looking so fine today!”
What’s stopping you? He’s your husband.
You can even tease him a little. “See this fine man I married. Hope nobody is looking at you outside?”
I find my husband most attractive when he’s home and not all dressed up. I’m telling you.
One thing that happens when couples have been together a long time is that they become too familiar with each other’s appearance.
You see your husband every day, so you stop noticing things you once found attractive about him.
Those things haven’t necessarily disappeared. You’ve just become used to them.
“I love how you take care of our family.”
I know some people will say, “But that’s his responsibility!”
Of course, it is. And?
Does being responsible mean someone shouldn’t be appreciated?
Your husband can be doing what he’s supposed to do, and you can still appreciate him for doing it well.
Besides, taking care of a family isn’t just about paying bills.
A man can provide everything financially and still be absent from his family’s life.
So, if your husband is truly involved, acknowledge it.
You can say, “I really love how committed you are to this family.”
You’ll definitely make your husband’s day.
“I love the way your mind works.”
You know those moments when your husband says something, and you’re impressed?
Tell him!
“Wow, I never thought of it that way.”
“I love how you think.”
I find intelligence attractive, and I’m not even talking about academic qualifications.
Some people have plenty of degrees but very little common sense.
And some people may not have impressive qualifications but are wise and creative.
Whatever you admire about your husband’s mind, don’t keep it to yourself.
You don’t have to pretend every idea he comes up with is brilliant. Some ideas are terrible. 😂
But you can love the way your husband thinks and still disagree with him.
“You make me feel safe.”
This is one of the most meaningful compliments a wife can give her husband, and I’m not talking only about physical safety.
Of course, knowing your husband will protect you from harm is a beautiful thing.
But I place a lot of value on emotional safety.
Can you tell your husband something you’re ashamed of without worrying that he’ll throw it in your face during your next argument?
Can you disagree with him without being afraid?
Can you be yourself around him?
One of marriage’s greatest blessings is being with someone who knows your weaknesses and doesn’t use them to make you feel small.
If your husband makes you feel that way, tell him.
And if your husband doesn’t make you feel safe, please don’t say it just to make him happy.
The whole point of a compliment is that you mean it.
“I’m so glad I married you.”
Imagine your husband sitting beside you, watching television, and you suddenly say, “You know what? I’m really glad I married you.”
He might even ask, “What happened? What do you want?” 😂
Some people are so used to hearing complaints and requests from their spouses that an unexpected compliment makes them suspicious.
But seriously, married people should say this more often, especially after years of marriage.
Marriage isn’t always easy. Sometimes, you are stressed and even annoy each other.
But if, despite everything, you still look at your husband and feel grateful that you chose him, why shouldn’t he know?
You don’t have to wait for your anniversary.
“You’re such a good father.”
I love seeing men who enjoy being fathers. Not men who think their only responsibility is to provide money and occasionally ask the children how school went.
I mean men who are involved in their children’s lives. They know their children’s friends, interests, and fears. They attend school events when they can.
They play with their children, correct them, teach them things, and make time for them.
And they don’t act like they’re doing their wives a favor whenever they look after their own children.
Because why are you calling it babysitting when they’re your children?
If your husband is that kind of father, please tell him how much you appreciate it.
“I still find you so attractive.”
This is different from telling your husband he’s handsome like I wrote above.
You can think someone is good-looking without necessarily feeling attracted to them.
Attraction is more personal.
It might be the way he smiles, his voice, the way he carries himself, or how he looks at you when you’re talking.
It might even be something other people wouldn’t even notice.
After years of marriage, it’s important to let your spouse know you still see them that way, because marriage can get very practical and every conversation can be all about running the home.
Meanwhile, there’s still a man and a woman in that marriage who need to feel wanted.
So, let him know when you find him irresistible.
“I love doing life with you.”
This might be my favorite compliment on this list.
Because when I think about marriage, I don’t think only about romance, children, or responsibilities. I think about companionship, having someone you genuinely enjoy being with.
My husband and I go on breakfast dates at least once a month, and one of my favorite things is simply spending time together.
Of course, I enjoy the food too.
But I love that we get to sit, talk, laugh, and enjoy each other’s company without the usual distractions.
Sometimes, marriage becomes so much about being parents and managing a home that you forget to enjoy each other.
I don’t want a marriage where the only thing my husband and I have in common is the children we’re raising and the bills we’re paying.
I want us to actually enjoy being married to each other.
So, when you have those moments with your husband, tell him, “I’m happy we’re building this life together.”
Those words are meaningful because you’re telling him you don’t just appreciate what he does for you. You enjoy who he is.
Why men need compliments from their wives
We sometimes underestimate how much our words affect our spouses.
A woman might truly admire her husband but rarely tells him.
Most of what she says to him is about what needs to be done or what she’s unhappy about.
And I’m not saying women shouldn’t complain when something is wrong.
Please, speak up. You shouldn’t have to pretend everything is fine just to protect your husband’s feelings.
But if there are good things about your husband, those deserve to be mentioned too.
You don’t have to compliment your husband every five minutes.
And don’t start saying things you don’t mean because someone on the internet told you men love hearing them.
Your husband doesn’t need you to tell him he’s the most intelligent man in the world if you don’t believe that.
Just find the things you admire about him.
If your husband only hears, “My handsome, hardworking, wonderful husband,” when you’re about to ask for money, he’ll associate your compliments with expenses.
Don’t be that kind of wife.
Which of these compliments do you tell your husband most often?
