Four Phrases to Add to Your Marriage Today
by Tara Pringle Jefferson
After a particularly trying day with the kids, we got the kids fed, in their pajamas and tucked into bed quickly. Then we collapsed on the couch.
My husband grabbed my hand, and even though I knew he was as tired as I was, and said, “Honey, you’ve had a hard day. I’ll clean up the kitchen and you go to bed early.”
Can you say, this dude KNOWS how to be an excellent husband? I should’ve hopped off the couch and nominated him at www.worldsbesthusband2010.com because he darn sure could’ve taken the top spot!
It got me thinking, though. Sometimes we don’t need grand gestures. We don’t need you to go out of your way to buy flowers, to make a four-course meal, to take our car to go get detailed. Sometimes it’s just the things we say that make a huge difference.
Here’s four phrases I want to incorporate into my marriage more often:
“Can I help you with anything?” I would love, love, love to hear this phrase at least once a day. Is it unrealistic? I have no clue. But there’s something about your spouse offering their help without you having to ask for it. Of course, this works best when it’s a two-way street, so if I want my husband to leap to my assistance, I better not disappear when he’s knee-deep in yardwork.
“You really look beautiful/handsome/sexy/hot today.” Sometimes we get so caught up in the day-to-day minutiae that the chance to just look at our partner and marvel at how sexy they still are after all these years (or months). Especially if you don’t have much time together during the day and your evenings are spent wrestling kids into the bed and passing out promptly afterward. Give your partner an unexpected compliment every other day and I bet you things will only get better.
“What would I do without you?” I usually ask my husband this question at least once a week, after he’s swooped in and fixed whatever problem I was trying to solve. He might not jump for joy every time I say it, but by continually expressing how much I value his place in my life, we strengthen our bond.
“What can I do to make this better?” My husband asked me this after an argument we had a while ago. Not only did it make it easier to accept his apology (and really, it wasn’t a big deal to begin with), but we both had a sense of how we were going to move forward, which is crucial when dealing with matters of the heart.
BMWK family, what are some of those magic phrases that can instantly turn your sour mood sweet?
Tara Pringle Jefferson is a freelance writer and blogger living in Ohio with her husband and two children. Visit her blog, www.theyoungmommylife.com, to read more of her observations about life, motherhood and love.
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