Several years ago Colleen Sonderman, wife of No Regrets conference founder Steve Sonderman, gave a presentation on the top 10 things wives need from their husbands. These are not in priority order.
1. Listen to her with eye contact and engagement. Communicate in a safe place and remember, you don’t have to fix her problems.
2. Talk to her. Tell her what is going on inside of you. Tell your wife your feelings, your fears and your failures. Be courageous.
3. Study her and learn the language she speaks.
4. Encourage her every day. Be your wife’s greatest cheerleader.
5. Prioritize her. Your wife needs to know that she is more important than your job, your hobby, sports and other guys. Where do your passions lie?
6. Care for her. Ask her what you can do to care for and nurture her. Help her care for the kids and grandkids.
7. Prepare her for your physical relationship. For women it is not the end but the process of getting there.
8. Be a leader and let her be a leader. Think of it as servant leadership. Share this responsibility.
9. Free her. Women need to have relationships with other women. Show you recognize and accept this need.
10. Date her. Go out on a regular basis. Get away from the house together. Hang out with each other.
Advice from a marriage counselor: Women are not men. Men are not women. Celebrate the differences, and renew your wedding promise every day.
Inspired by Ron Price The Four Corners Coalition for Marriage and Family
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some effective ways for husbands to communicate with their wives?
How can husbands show support and care for their wives?
What role does physical intimacy play in a marriage, according to the advice in the article?
Why is it important for husbands to encourage their wives' friendships with other women?
In what ways can husbands lead effectively in their marriages?
What is a simple yet impactful way for couples to maintain their bond?
How important is prioritization of one's wife in a marriage?
Sources
- You May Want to Marry My Husband - The New York Times (nytimes.com)Mar 3, 2017 ... Note: Amy Krouse Rosenthal died on March 13, 2017, 10 days after this essay was published. ... A husband and wife walk into the emergency room in ...
- I'm excited to share something special today. After my recent column ... (instagram.com)Dec 10, 2025 ... Women want husbands who are capable and willing to take charge in different areas. Even where a woman is strong, she doesn't want to be that ...
- Column 10: Pain is Womanly, and Other Bullshit Myths of Childbirth (mcsweeneys.net)Mar 1, 2010 ... Both my kids celebrated their birthdays recently, and since I'm not planning on having any more children (my husband and I have no intention ...
- Should men pay on dates as reparations for gender wage gap? (latimes.com)Oct 2, 2023 ... Many women believe that it's only fair for men to pay, and not just because men still out-earn women. Women also spend more on date prep to ...