Being a wife and mom is hard. When couples get married, they are expecting give and take, love and laughter, and most importantly, a partner and friend in all the things life — but life often changes (ahem, kids). So imagine the surprise and disappointment felt when only one person is doing all the things.
The key to marital happiness is pretty simple: love, respect, and care about the other person at all times and in all the ways. Pausing to think how what one partner does will affect the other is not just considerate, it’s the difference between growing together and growing apart. Women, in particular, often feel like they've taken on the brunt of the family's household and emotional labor (which is most likely true), so its up to their partners to step it up and start doing things to help them out ASAP. After all, happy wife = happy life.
Wash the Dishes — Without Being Asked
Most people hate doing dishes, especially if that person does that same menial task every single day of their life. So don’t wait to be asked — which is just another burden on a wife — just take the initiative and wash those dishes by hand or load the dishwasher. She will be intoxicated.
Actually Put Dirty Dishes All the Way in the Dishwasher
Instead of just putting the dirty dishes next to the sink, how about rinsing them off and putting them in the dishwasher. Really want to be a star? Unload the dishwasher when its done and put everything away.
Start a Load of Laundry
Grab all the hampers in the house, separate the loads by color and start a load of laundry. Better yet, when the load is done transfer it into the dryer. It will score big points with the Mrs. when she sees how considerate her partner can be.
Insist She Take Some Alone Time
She's probably — actually, definitely — exhausted from doing all the housework, child care, and her actual work work. She has no down time. Insist that she go have some alone time to do something she likes, wants, or needs — her choice.
Take Out the Garbage
Take out the garbage — it’s such a simple thing and it only takes a minute. To her, it’s one more thing to do on an already exhaustive list. Caring enough to take it off her list is super hot.
Vacuum or Mop
The dog has shed all over the floor. The kids have left crumbs everywhere. Grab the vacuum/broom/mop, take five minutes and clean the floor. All without being asked — see the trend here? She’ll be grateful.
Take Bedtime With the Kids
Moms are never off the clock. There is no happy hour or relaxing at home after 10 hours of work. Husband of the year knows that by putting the kids to bed so his wife can actually just breathe a little.
Cook or Pick Up Dinner
Dinner is a whole other level of mom hell. It’s tedious and has to happen every single day. Taking care of dinner not only takes it off her plate, it lets her know how much he respects what she does at home for their family.
Clean the Toilets & Tubs
Cleaning the bathroom is gross for anybody. It’s literally the place all the grossest bodily functions happen. Nothing says “I love you” like cleaning up the rogue pee in a boys' bathroom.
Take the Kids to Their Activities
Kids these day do extracurricular activities like it’s their job. That means Mom has to run kids around town constantly. Volunteer to drive the kids to soccer and ballet and let Mom catch her breath for a change.
Iron
Let's get real: nobody wants to iron yet everyone likes beautiful, unwrinkled clothes. Take the initiative and iron her work clothes for tomorrow, as well as your own.
Get the Kids Ready for School in the Morning
Mornings are hectic. Really want to help her day start of right? Dress the kids, feed them, brush their hair and teeth, and drop them at school. Let Mom sleep in. Best day ever.
Tackle Yard Work
Mowing is great, but how about weeding and raking without being asked? Snow blowing on his own would be a pleasant surprise.
Pay the Bills
Finances are stressful. Worrying about paying everybody is a lot. Please just schedule payments for a month so she doesn’t have to think about it.
Pick Up Cards & Gifts for Family Members
Buying gifts for special occasions is a lot of work. It takes time, effort, and consideration. A husband who buys his own mom’s gift and writes a card is a rare gem indeed.
Do the Grocery Shopping
Cooking is a tiresome chore, but grocery shopping is one that feels like a waste of time. Picking up the slack is unexpected and super sexy.
Complete Doing the Laundry
Pull that laundry out of the dryer, fold it, and put it away where it belongs. And then remember that this is what she probably does multiple times a week without anyone even noticing.
Finish Tasks
Do the little tasks. Pick up socks. Replace the toilet paper roll. Throw away empty containers in the fridge. These are just a handful of small things, but they actually add up to quite a lot of mental load off her brain.
Give Her a Massage With No Strings Attached
After a long day of duties, sometimes she just needs to relax with a back rub or well-deserved foot massage. Just give her a massage without the expectation of anything in return.
Ask About Her Day & Really Listen
One of the most important things a husband can do is be there for his wife. When the world is on her shoulders, a kind word and really listening to what she has to say means everything. It’s easy. She just wants to feel heard. No problem-solving required.
