I once read somewhere that sometimes, the behavior you get from your husband is a product of how you treat him.
Treat him with contempt and bring out anger and defensiveness.
Treat him with respect, and bring out the king in him.
Every wife has the superpower to make her husband feel like a king, and in my opinion, every wife should use it.
Because if you don’t make your husband feel respected, who do you want to do that for you?
Aside from the silly arguments about who should be respected more in the relationship, both husband and wife should have healthy levels of respect for each other.
It’s the bare minimum in a healthy relationship.
But today, let us talk about the men.
The things that make women feel respected aren’t exactly the same for men.
But don’t get me wrong, making your husband feel respected doesn’t require a PhD in psychology or a list of impossible tasks.
It’s about the little things you can add to or subtract from your everyday life.
The things that many women do and their husbands feel like royalty, valued and honored.
It’s about understanding what speaks to his heart and showing it in ways that matter to him.
See, respect isn’t just about what you do; it’s also about how you do it.
Before I go all Shakespeare on you, let us just dive right into these things practically.
8 Things Women Do That Make Their Husbands Feel Respected
1. Seek his consent
As a woman, it is easy to continue your lifestyle of making spontaneous decisions and doing the stuff you want to do without asking anyone, as you did as a single person.
But when you get married, things should change.
You should value your husband enough to talk to him about stuff and even ask for his permission sometimes.
Not because you’re now a slave but just to make him feel important.
Sometimes, just throw in some “Let me ask my husband” into conversations to his hearing.
Men love it when their women do this; you have no idea just how much, especially when it’s done in front of other people.
When the husband offers advice, and the wife takes it seriously, even if she doesn’t follow it eventually, she shows him that she respects his opinion.
He’ll feel respected knowing his thoughts are worth considering.
Also, when the wives trust the husband’s decisions even when they’re tempted to micromanage, it shows that they respect his judgment.
2. Listen without interrupting
These days, people hardly listen without interrupting.
I wonder why.
It’s like the golden art of listening is being lost.
People either listen to respond or even cut you short mid-sentence.
Doing this is not okay, but doing it to your husband?
When a man speaks to his wife, and she is calm enough to hear him out, it makes him feel respected.
Instead of cutting the man short while he’s speaking, gently listening to and hearing him out goes a long way to telling him that you respect him.
The truth is there are times when the wife may already know what he wants to say even before he’s done.
Or times when she does not agree with what he’s trying to say, but she doesn’t make it a habit to always finish the sentence for him or stop him.
This simple act of giving him the floor makes him feel like his voice matters.
3. Prioritize him before his friends
Few things boost a man’s confidence, like hearing his wife praise him in public.
When a wife honors her husband in front of people, especially his friends, she melts his heart completely.
The respect he feels if that was done in private is multiplied a hundred times because it’s like an unspoken announcement from his wife to everyone around saying, “This is my King, and I don’t joke with him.”
What man wouldn’t love that?
Every husband feels respected when his wife has his back, especially in public.
Even if the man makes a questionable call during a family discussion, you can discuss it privately later instead of correcting him in front of everyone.
You accord him some high level of respect when you do that.
Or when he hears you speaking so highly of him to other people, instantly, he feels respected and appreciated.
On the flip side, when a wife constantly criticizes or mocks her husband in public, it can leave him feeling small and disrespected.
Be his cheerleader, not his critic, especially when others are watching.
4. Appreciate his efforts
Every man loves to hear, “I see what you’re doing, and it matters.”
This can be done through words and actions.
If that man does his best to feed the family and ensure that everyone is fine, appreciating him will make him feel good and make him want to do more.
Husbands do so much.
Scratch that.
Good husbands do so much.
Most times, they’re providers, protectors, and partners.
They’re also many times the janitor, electrician, and lawn mower.
A man who does his best deserves appreciation.
Whether he’s taking the kids to a game or working late to provide for the family, acknowledging his efforts speaks volumes.
Tell him how much you appreciate his hard work, parenting skills, or the way he loves you.
This simple recognition can brighten his entire week.
I wonder why some women haven’t hacked this simple action.
It doesn’t take much to make that man feel valued sometimes, just a heartfelt “thank you” or a kind word goes a long way.
He doesn’t just feel respected; he’ll also feel motivated to do more.
5. Show physical affection
When a wife harnesses her femininity the right way, she can take her husband’s breath away and make him feel dignified.
You’re a woman for a reason, a wife.
Your softness is part of the package that makes him feel regarded; use it.
Respect can be verbal, like a soft answer, even when he’s mad or being graceful with your words, but it can also be physical.
A hug, a kiss, or a gentle touch on the shoulder.
These things look little, but they communicate admiration and care.
Even passionate lovemaking is not exempted.
There’s a way a wife can give herself to her husband in lovemaking that makes him feel like a king, and I mean this in a healthy way, and not anything weird, harmful, or fetish.
They remind him of the love and respect his wife has for him, and he feels honored.
6. Support and celebrate him
When women support their men, they show them that they admire them and that makes them feel on top of the world.
Supporting him means telling him that you respect what he’s doing and believe in his potential.
As opposed to dismissing his job or acting indifferent about the things he’s doing.
It gladdens a man’s heart when his wife is his number one cheerleader, pushing him and celebrating his wins with him.
It’s sweet!
Even when the man’s dreams seem far-fetched or risky, a little encouragement can give him the confidence to take that leap.
And when he gets a win, whether big or small, she celebrates his achievements with him.
7. Respect his person
For someone to feel respected, you have to respect them.
Hold him in high regard by recognizing his opinions, preferences, and person and showing respect for it.
If he has boundaries, respect them.
Give him space when he needs it, and show him that his needs matter.
Men often process things like stress differently, and giving him the room to unwind shows that you respect his need for solitude.
These things make a husband feel like his wife knows and regards him.
Respect him by complimenting him when he does something good and staying away from comparing him with other men, especially in a degrading way.
When a wife does this, she reminds her husband that she notices and appreciates the man he is.
8. Avoid nagging
Let’s be honest: nobody likes to be nagged at.
If a husband forgets to take out the trash, courteous wives communicate kindly instead of turning it into a scolding session for the man.
“Honey, could you help me with the trash before dinner?” sounds much better than “Why can’t you ever remember?”
In marriage, tone matters a great deal.
Speaking with kindness and patience can make all the difference.
These things mentioned are everyday habits and actions that make husbands feel valued, admired, and respected.