How to Make Sure Your Husband Doesn’t Feel Like An Afterthought

Give your children the security of knowing their parents love each other.

 

 Today I’m so excited to have as my guest, Sharon Jaynes, a conference speaker, author of 21 books, and devotion writer for Proverbs 31 Ministries and Girlfriends in God. Her latest book, A 14-Day Romance Challenge: Reigniting Passion in Your Marriage, includes over 250 ways to romance your man. She’s been romancing her husband, Steve, for 37 years. They call NC home.

Here’s Sharon:

Remember that old childhood chant,

(Girl’s name) and (boy’s name) sitting in the tree

K-i-s-s-i-n-g.

First comes love, Then comes marriage, Then comes baby in the baby carriage.

 

Did you ever wonder why there wasn’t a second verse?

I think a lot of husbands do.

I’ll admit, when my son, Steven, came into the world, it was a challenge not to pour all my energy and attention into that little bundle of love that held my heart in his tiny hand. I think there were times when my husband wondered where he fit in once our first child was born. And he’s not the only guy who’s felt that way.

Rob Parsons, author of The Sixty Minute Marriage Builder, wrote about the adjustment his marriage went through after the birth of their first child.

“I have sympathy for the person who said, “Insanity is hereditary—you get it from your kids!” I don’t think I could love my children more, but why didn’t anybody warn my wife and me of the changes they were going to cause in our relationship? One minute Diane and I were spending our evenings taking walks together, visiting friends, and reading in front of the fire. The next we were walking the halls at midnight singing nursery rhymes and dealing with postpartum depression—in me!”1

A mother should never feel guilty for putting her husband before her children. I grew up in a very volatile home where my parents fought on a regular basis. They vacillated between heated arguments and passive-aggressive silence. I felt like our home was teetering on a fault-line and I never knew when the big one was going to hit. There were many.

As a child, I would have given anything to know my parents loved each other—that my daddy was Mom’s priority and my mom was his. When I was six years old, my favorite aunt took me shopping to buy my mom a present, and I picked out a very revealing nightgown. Everyone got a big laugh out of my selection. But in my little girl heart, I thought that if my mom wore the nightie, then maybe dad would like her. Then maybe she would like him. And maybe everything would be OK.

Security. That’s what I wanted.

So when my son, Steven, was born, I wanted to make sure that he knew that his mommy and daddy were crazy about each other…and always would be. Obviously, a child requires more time and energy than a grown man, but a skillful wife assures her guy he is still number one in her heart.

How to Make Sure Your Husband Doesn't Feel Like an Afterthought

Here are a few ideas from my book, A 14-Day Romance Challenge: Reigniting Passion in Your Marriage, to let your husband know that he’s now an afterthought, but still holds the key to your heart.

  • Text your husband a love note with a hashtag such as #crazyaboutmyman, #crazyinlove, #hunkyhusband, or #happywife.
  • Sneak his car to the car wash. Then leave a note on the steering wheel that says, “I love you. Enjoy your clean car today!”
  • Purchase a bottle of the cologne he wore when you were dating and give it to him as a surprise. Just the idea that you remembered it will stir his heart. He’ll feel like Romeo just putting it on.
  •  Go by his workplace and slip a “ticket” under his windshield wiper. Write the following: “You have been cited for being the most amazing man in the world.” Sign it, Officer (your name).
  •  Plan a date night at your favorite restaurant or even an overnight in a hotel. Give your husband a note that says, “I want you all to myself.” Don’t talk about the kids for at least 24 hours.

Sharon would like to send a copy A 14-Day Romance Challenge: Reigniting Passion in Your Marriage to one of my readers!

 

This contest is over and the winner is Lynne who posted February 8, 2017 at 8:40 a.m. Thank you to all who participated!

1 Rob Parsons, “Don’t Let Your Baby Drive You Apart,” Focus on the Family, February 1998, 12.

Lynn

11 Comments

  1. It is so easy to put everything before our husbands….work, kids, friends. This is a great reminder of how special and important the husband/wife relationship is to our families. Can’t wait to read the book.

  2. Jaime Boudreaux says:

    I know it makes my #sexybeast happy when the house is clean and the dishes are done when he gets home, so I’ve been trying to be more intentional about doing those things. #happywife #ilovemyhusband

  3. Christine D. says:

    to make him feel special and know that I appreciate his hard work and long hours, I sit with the kids for their (earlier) dinner, but I wait to eat my dinner – with him ! He knows this is big because I am starving by the time he gets home!!

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      I love this selfless gesture, Christine!

  4. Kellie Walker says:

    My husband is my first hello and my last goodbye.

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Me too, Kellie 🙂

  5. I definitely need to work on this. my husband stays at home with my 5 year old daughter. I work 10-11 hours a day on weekdays with a few more hours on the weekend. I am so exhausted by the time I get home and then try to spend a few hours with my daughter before she goes to bed. sometimes I get so jealous hearing about how they did this or that during the day. he has done a great job raising her so far and I don’t give him the credit he deserves. I definitely need to work on making him feel special and loved and just not give him the last bits of what little energy I have left at the end of the day

  6. CATHERINE VOLK says:

    I am a big believer that your husband needs to be cherished above any children, and believe me, I cherish my children and grandchildren. There is never any doubt in my husband’s mind that he is the love of my life. Even after being married for several years, he is the one I want to spend time with – no matter what we are doing. We always touch when we are together, and kiss hello and goodbye. His favorite gift from me was a list of 100 reasons why I love him. He keeps it with him at work. He’s told me that he pulls it out and rereads it whenever he has a bad or difficult day.

  7. This is especially hard when he is the child’s step father. And making time for both of them evokes hurt feelings on both sides. I am working very hard to be everything to everyone and every day I pray God helps me show everyone they are important to me.

  8. To make my husband feel special,I want to plan a special weekend away to focus on just the two of us. The k you got the give away.

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