The definition of PROTECT is: to cover or shield from exposure, injury, damage, or destruction. So many times as men we are told that our role is to protect our wives and family by any means. Although we may think that this duty comes naturally because of our testosterone or alpha male status, the truth is that many of us have confused protecting with how “hard” or tough we can be. I think that in the midst of being tough we forget that protection can come in many forms. Here are 3 things you may not be protecting your wife from and you don’t even know it!
1) Your family, especially your Mother
The truth is that sometimes Mother-In-Laws and Daughter-in-laws are in a subconscious battle. Mom is battling for her son and the wife is battling for her husband. Mom thinks that the wife will never add up to her (cooking, parenting, planning…) and the wife feels like she always has to prove something to Mom. These situations can become toxic and sometimes mom can become really disrespectful towards the wife. This is where you must throw yourself into an uncomfortable situation. No son really wants to ever have to “check” his mother, but the truth is that the minute you became a husband you signed up to protect your wife from any disrespect and that even includes disrespect from your own family. You don’t have to be disrespectful or reckless when protecting her, but your wife wants to know that she is the priority and you will uphold and protect her physical and emotional well being. Now if your wife is wrong you must make that clear as well, but the mamas boy tendencies have to go out the window!
2) Your children
In many families you see children who will run all over mom, but they are scared as heck of Dad. They will say disrespectful things, catch attitudes, and show no appreciation. This is where you come in! You must protect your wife from any disrespect from your children. The same way you wouldn’t allow someone on the streets to speak to her disrespectfully should be upheld in your household! Your children should know “this is my wife and if you disrespect her then you are going to have to answer to me!” The best example a father can set for his children is how he treats their mother and in how he allows his wife to be treated.
3) Herself
Sometimes your wife will be her own worst enemy. She will criticize her appearance, her cooking, how she is pleasing you, and other things. This is where you come in! She may not say it verbally, but sometimes she just needs you to reaffirm her and tell her how great of a wife, mother and woman she is. You need to love her unconditionally and this will inevitably help you protect her from herself because she will feel safe and secure within the relationship and with who she is and what she brings to your family and the world.
Sometimes protecting your woman isn’t defined by how many people you can beat up, scare, or intimidate! Sometimes protecting her comes in the form of making her feel secure in the fact that you have her back over anyone else’s and that you love her with all you have!
BMWK – Get involved in the conversation: What do you think men should do to protect their wives?
“Striving to be better than good enough!”
Wow. Spot on again!! Love this.
Thanks so much!
Awesome read and nothing but truth!
Thanks Tiya!!
Wonderful article. Also, husbands need to protect their wives from the mother of his child(ren) in blended families. I would love to see more articles that address this dynamic. A lot of guidance is needed for both the wife and the husband on how to handle an unruly or passive aggressive ex.
Yes we do need to see more articles and tools on how to live peacefully in blended families.With this being my first marriage & having to deal with the bitter ex its already begining to cause chaos in our otherwise happy home.
@Hopethenewife and Jae please stay tuned here to this blog (BMWK) we just wrapped up shooting a new documentary specifically on the challenges of blended families. It will release next year and you’ll hear about it here first.
Jae you make a great point and that will be a great topic for another blog. Blended family dynamics can be tough especially when the focus becomes about the parents and not the children!
This is an amazing article and something that I’ve been telling my husband (newlyweds) since last year. I’ve had limited interaction with my in-laws due to school and his family consists mostly of women…some of them think that they know it all. It’s really a different upbringing for us and I don’t want to be a you-know-what, but I’ve had two run-ins with two separate ones already.
Thanks asjw8113 yes the natural competition becomes evident nd trying to tread lightly becomes tough. That’s where your husband must step in and make sure you feel comfortable and safe!
Great read Troy!! This one was dead on…nothing but the truth.
Thanks Sheree! I appreciate the love!
Great post and I have to agree with Jae, husbands need to set up the boundaries on any and all interference with the marriage. Protecting her from herself, priceless!
Thanks Whitney! Protecting a wife from herself is the most difficult to do but it must be one. We tend to be our own worst critics!
Very good article! I’d drop the “in-law” qualifier and go with mothers, sisters, brothers, aunties… get the point… anyone outside of the circle of man, wife and God. We had to establish boundaries early and reinforce them often.
Great point Deacon!! Thanks!
This is excellent! Thank you so much for sharing.
The “protect her from the children” really hits home because my son is going through the “sass mouth” stage. When he back talks me, I check him immediately and deliver consequences. When he does it in front of my husband, my husband has my back and makes it crystal clear that “disrespecting Mommie” will get you in big trouble every. single. time. LOL!
Thanks MommieDearest! I appreciate the love and the comment! It’s great to see you have nipped that behavior in the bud and that you and your husband are a united front!!
This is good, solid advice. especially for blended families. My ex set zero boundaries with his family. I was expected to hold my tongue and do whatever they asked. They could talk to me any kind of way and bring any kind of nonsense into our home (like chain smoking and excessive drinking) and he’d just say, “Oh, that’s just how they are. You only have to put up with them for a few days”.
Tx_99 sounds like it was best that that is now your EX! Disrespect shouldn’t be allowed but many times in blended families it stems from guilt so the parent will allow the kids to get away with it!
This is a great article I have to say that in all three of these scenarios my husband has been my protector. He’s a wonderful man and I’m blessed to have him as husband. Good advice keep these articles of wisdom coming. Thanks
Linda it sounds like you have a great husband! I am so happy to hear that! Thanks for reading!
Its great to see this type of support system. Too late for me but very important info… use it wisely
No need why do you say it’s to late?
Great post. I’m not married yet, but I just knew that mother-in-law had to be in the mix. Lol. I was also thinking of protection from a husband’s friends / best buddies, in terms of them thinking that his wife controls him.
Renee that is a great point. Husbands have to check their boys sometimes and let them know who the priority is and why it is that way. It ultimately gives other men incentive and “permission” to do the same!
I am not married yet, but I thank God in advance for this kind of husband I really had a few bad relationship experiences with this, where my child’s father did not protect me in our relationship from his family or mine. And he too became very abusive emotionally and verbally. This one of STRONGEST qualities that I look for in a man now. Thank you for sharing this information.
Stacey thanks for reading and I pray that that man is coming your way!!!
Wow! I am going into my 3rd year of marriage and this is so necessary. I was ready to end my marriage because of the way my husband has allowed his mother and his sisters to treat me. Even his children’s’ mother. This is really good. I hope he reads it.
Thanks so much Quiana for sharing. I, too, was ready to end my marriage–even worse. After a hate-mail from my mother-in-law, I drank down a bunch of sleeping pills with Sprite and rubbing alcohol. Of course, all that did was confirm to everybody that I was the one with the problem, and no body stepped up and protected me from this mean, spiteful, jealous mother-in-law. We are still married, but if I could change one thing, it would be that my man would sit his mother down and tell her to leave me alone.
Jenni I hate to hear that you are going through such a tough time. What kind of response do you get from your husband when you communicate this with him?
Great article!
If my husband protected me morei probably would have respect for him.
These are absolutely things wives need to be protected from yet aren’t acknowledged. Most importantly is the relationship between the mother in law and daughter in law. If it’s not right it can put a huge strain on the family.