There are so many stereotypes for men, and I wouldn’t lie to you; many men fit right into those stereotypes either by accident or by design.
There is the stoic stereotype that finds it difficult to express emotions except anger; anger is one emotion that most men have no difficulty expressing.
Some men fit right into these stereotypes because that is their personality, while others spend their lives trying to be that way because they were told it was the only way to be a man.
There are male stereotypes everywhere, even in love.
They say most males don’t know how to express love verbally.
They also have issues with being vulnerable.
They say many things about men, but the actual truth is when a man loves you, his behavior can not be explained by any stereotype.
He stands out in the way he cherishes and nurtures his relationship with you.
When a man deeply loves his wife, he exhibits a uniqueness that sets him apart from other men.
Let’s take a look at what he does differently.
9 Things Men Who Love Their Wives Do Differently
1. He listens to you actively
Many men love to hear the sound of their voices.
In fact, I must confess that I am one of them.
I love to talk, but listening is a very hard task for me.
Have you ever felt something close to physical pain just because you are trying to listen to someone when you feel like you have something to say?
Please, say yes so I will feel less weird for feeling this way.
So, I love to talk, and many men do.
However, listening is a necessary skill that many of us don’t have.
Even when we think we are listening, we are often just hearing words and formulating replies in our heads.
True listening goes beyond hearing words; it involves understanding and connecting with the speaker.
When men love their wives, one thing they do differently is that they listen.
Like they actually listen.
When a man loves his wife, he wants to understand her perspectives and opinions.
He maintains eye contact with you and listens without interrupting you.
This is his way of showing that he is genuinely interested in your thoughts and feelings.
Remember I mentioned how much I love the sound of my own voice?
Well, when I met my girlfriend, I realized that there was a part of me I hadn’t discovered yet.
The part that loved to listen.
I loved to listen to her speak about serious and unserious things.
I could sit down and listen to her talk about her day just as easily as I could listen to her discuss the strength of her position in an intellectual discussion.
It came as a discovery to me, but it helped us connect on a deeper level and ensured that she felt valued by me.
When men love their wives, they ensure that they feel valued by listening attentively to them.
You may think that this is like the “barest minimum.”
Just take a look at your friends’ relationships.
How many of them have husbands who truly listen to them?
The fact that few women have husbands who actively listen to them is a sign that your husband is doing something differently.
The reason for the unique behavior?
The simple answer is love.
2. He appreciates you regularly
In relationships, appreciation is key.
Your partner wants to know that their efforts are seen and appreciated.
Some people fail to realize this and end up creating a toxic environment for their relationships.
As a child, I saw many men struggle to appreciate their wives.
Perhaps they behaved this way because they felt their wives were just doing their duties.
This behavior created a situation where the women felt underappreciated and taken for granted.
Trust me, you don’t want your partner feeling this way.
Men who love their wives do things differently.
They know how to appreciate their wives for their immense contributions to the relationship.
Women have to make a lot of sacrifices in marriage, and men who love them know that they must be appreciated.
Apart from this, your partner doesn’t need to do anything before you appreciate their presence in your life.
Don’t you ever just look at your partner and marvel at how you got so lucky to get a good partner?
Men who love their wives do this regularly.
They may say things like “I don’t know what my life would have turned out to be if I hadn’t met you” or “I am just so thankful to have you in my life”.
These words are verbal expressions of their appreciation.
They also frequently express appreciation for their wives through thoughtful gifts, kind gestures, breakfast in bed, or fancy dinners.
The methods may differ, but the intention remains the same: they are being appreciative.
3. They are ready to share responsibilities
I remember telling a feminist friend of mine that all the arguments about who cooks and cleans will be rendered void when she gets into a loving relationship.
I feel like people who spend so much time arguing about such matters haven’t gotten to experience what it is to love and be loved.
Many men may say that they don’t like to cook or do house chores, but the fact is that when a man loves you, he will want to help out.
Just the same you will want to help him if you see him struggling with something.
Men who love their wives don’t shy away from household chores or child care.
They don’t act like it’s their wives’ duty to take care of the household.
Rather, they are ready to help.
They cook, do the dishes, take out the trash, and do the laundry occasionally to lighten their wives’ load.
For example, my uncle is quite a traditional man with very conservative beliefs, but he helps his wife around the house and does all his laundry.
He cooks when he feels she may not be able to do it without her telling him or drawing a roster sharing cooking responsibilities.
When men love their wives, they don’t need to be told before they assist them.
4. They communicate well
That image of guys as being generally uncommunicative is another stereotype that has been built about men.
The fact is that many men actually have issues with communication, especially when it involves communicating their feelings.
However, this is one thing that men do differently when they love their wives.
When men love their wives, they communicate well with them.
They try to keep in touch with her frequently, talking about important and unimportant things.
Regardless of what they choose to talk about, they stay connected with their wives.
A friend of mine used to keep in touch with his friend frequently.
So, one time, we all gathered to have an all-guy hangout at his house.
Guess who was talking to his girlfriend for hours when we were supposed to hang out?
Our host!
Now, that’s not even the point of the story.
Another guy there got so pissed off by what was happening and complained to me.
In his exact words, he said, “Why will my babe be calling me all the time? Don’t I have other things to do?”.
Now, the person who complained is married to a wife who travels a lot and is so concerned about communicating frequently with her, especially when she is on her trip.
It is such a radical shift.
From being someone who didn’t like to talk to his girlfriend every day to being a man who “wouldn’t be able to breathe” if he didn’t get in touch with his wife.
That sharp change can only be attributed to him finally meeting someone he truly loves.
The fact is that open communication is vital in any relationship, and when men discuss their feelings, concerns, and joys with their wives, it is a sign of love.
5. They prioritize quality time
Most men naturally like to hang out with each other.
They find pleasure in the unlimited fun and easygoing atmosphere that reigns when men hang out.
However, when a man is in love with his wife, he starts to think differently.
He begins to prioritize spending quality time with his wife over hanging out with friends.
This doesn’t mean he may not choose to hang out with his friends sometimes.
This means that if he is faced with a choice to do just one thing, he will choose to spend time with you.
Spending quality time with their wives never ceases to be a special occasion for men who love their wives.
Whether it is a regular date night, a weekend getaway, movie night at the cinema or just binge watching their favorite shows on TV, they ensure that they make time for their wives.
The good thing about spending quality time with your wife is that it strengthens the bond between the couple.
If you are wondering what couples in successful relationships do, this is one of the things they do to make their relationships successful.
6. They respect their wives
A friend of mine shared her dread of marriage with me.
She said she dreads marriage because she had seen so many women disrespected in their marriages.
Well, I had to tell her that love and respect can’t be separated.
There is no such thing as “I know he loves me but he just doesn’t know how to respect women”.
Ladies, don’t keep yourself in a relationship where you are disrespected because you think he loves you.
When men love their wives, they treat them with respect.
I have heard tales of several of our Nigerian forefathers who were patriarchal and hard men treating their wives with respect.
Back in those days, people usually arranged marriages, and women usually didn’t have any say in choosing the man they married.
But some of them were lucky to be married to men who loved them.
Men who saw them as more than possessions.
These men treated their wives like queens by the standards of those days.
They respected their wives, and even though most men didn’t value their wives’ opinions in those days, they listened to their wives’ advice occasionally.
When a man loves you, he will respect you.
He will honor your opinions, choices, and individuality.
He will discuss matters with you before taking action.
When men love their wives, respect is never going to be a scarce commodity in their marriages.
This mutual respect between couples is among the pillars of any successful relationship.
7. They celebrate their wives
Anytime you see a man who is inclined to compete with his wife, it is safe to conclude that he doesn’t love her.
If a man feels threatened by his wife’s achievements and success, it’s obvious that he is competing with you.
Marriage is not a competition, partners should be able to celebrate each other.
When a man loves his wife, he has no trouble doing this.
He is her biggest cheerleader, and the simple reason for this is that he knows that “a win for one is a win for all”.
He takes pride in his wife’s achievements and is sure to acknowledge her accomplishments.
I remember seeing a delightful sight during the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Tara Davis-Woodhall celebrated her gold medal in the long jump final with her husband, Hunter.
The joy was very evident in her husband’s eyes.
The pictures made me “love” love all over again.
Those are the actions of a man who truly loves his wife.
8. They encourage personal growth
Marriage is not just about meeting a woman, slipping a ring into her fingers, and creating a family with her.
It is much more than that.
From the moment the knot was tied, something beautifully miraculous happened.
Couples are meant to grow together.
They are meant to take an interest in each other’s personal growth.
Men who love their wives take this role very seriously.
They support their wives’ interests and ambitions.
They encourage them in tough times and keep encouraging them towards self-development.
Some men would rather discourage their wives from personal growth, and that’s bad because if that relationship is not making you grow, then it isn’t the right environment for you to be in.
When husbands love their wives, they create an environment that encourages their wives to grow.
This brings about mutual respect and utmost satisfaction in the relationship.
9. They are loyal
You know the myth about all men being cheaters?
That’s a really wrong idea that has been sponsored by ages of outlandish behavior by many men.
However, this doesn’t mean it is true for all men.
There is a different breed of men who are loyal when they love you.
They can’t bring themselves to love another person other than you.
One time, I noticed that a lady who was getting close to me suddenly distanced herself.
When I asked her about it, she said she was scared.
Scared that I was going to hurt her.
She believed all men could and would cheat if given the right opportunities.
I just had to let go.
I didn’t want to overspend myself convincing someone of my innocence even before any alleged crime was committed.
Ladies, when a man truly loves you, loyalty wouldn’t be a far-fetched idea.
Men can also be loyal if they truly love you.
Don’t let the scars of the past ruin the future of your relationships.
In essence, men who love their wives do things differently because they love their wives.
It’s just as simple as that.
They are committed to respecting, loving, and constantly showing up for their wives.
Their actions speak volumes by creating a loving and nurturing environment where love can truly thrive.
I remember a certain song by R. Kelly, “When a woman loves, she loves for real.”
Well, permit me to end this with my own spinoff of the song, “When a man loves, he loves for real.”
Men really do act differently when they love their wives.