Your man has needs just like we do and the more we meet those needs, the better your marriage will be. If these things work on my man, they’ll work on yours too!

When we said our vows, I glossed over the ugly parts–sickness, worse, poorer–and just focused on the pretty. It didn’t end well. It seems marriage is made up of equally good and bad experiences and the way we handle them says a lot about our character. Through the trials, we learned  to love better, to laugh harder, and to compromise. 

We traveled through the mountains on vacation and through the farm fields trying to bump out a baby (or six!). We saw each other at our worst and our best. The struggles make us stronger when we depend on Christ.

Joyful people create a happy home when they’re centered on Christ. There will always be times when we disagree or have rotten attitudes but as a whole, here are 12 practical ways to make your home a happy place for your husband to come home to.

Put on a happy face. 

I remember my mom used to sing this around the house and it always made me laugh. Creating a cheerful atmosphere makes your home a place the entire family enjoys coming home to. Husband coming home soon? Save the complaints for another time and put on a happy face.  

Be positive. 

We are surrounded by negativity at work, on the internet, even at church, but it doesn’t have to be that way at home. Think twice and find the positive in every situation.

Be flexible.

The longer I’m married, the more flexible I am. For years, the rigidity of a schedule hindered spontaneity and we missed out on fun times. There’s a place for a plan for a place for fun. Learning to be flexible can make family planning much easier. 

Be a good steward of our finances.

 Whether you or your man is the breadwinner, choosing to be good stewards of your finances impacts your marriage and your financial future. Be frugal. Think twice before you buy something. Do you really need it or can it wait? He’ll thank you by knowing he can trust you to make wise financial decisions.

Be resourceful. Part of being a good steward is being resourceful with what you’ve got. I wanted new Christmas decorations last year but it just wasn’t in the budget so the kids and I turned to nature to create our decor. There are tons of great suggestions on Pinterest for using pinecones, greenery, and even sticks for decorations. Cheap and cute!

Be creative and involved with the kids. Hubs says when I do fun, creative things with the kids, he loves me even more and the same is true for him! There’s something special about your spouse squatting eye-level with your child and paying attention to them. It’s a win-win for the entire family.

Don’t nag. He hasn’t forgotten the grass hasn’t been mowed this week; in fact, he sees it every time he drives home, so stop nagging. Imagine his surprise if you mowed it yourself or hired someone to do the job just once (unless your income allows for more).

Feed him. I don’t wake up at 4am to cook him a hot breakfast but he does appreciate if I make him muffins or a burrito the night before and leave it in the fridge for him to grab on the way to the barn. He also loves a good home-cooked meal, even on our busy days, so the crockpot can be a lifesaver to busy families!

Affirm him. This is a huge one for my husband because his main love language is affirmation. A kind word meant to build him up goes a long way in encouraging him and keeping him happy. It’s important for your man to know you think he is great. Saying an affirming word makes my man happy and me too.

Respect him. This is huge. Your man deserves your respect, especially in our gender-confused society where men are treated like dirt and “less than” a woman. Neither sex is less important than the other–we were created equally so listen to what your man says and respect him. If you disagree, save it for behind closed doors.

Be available. There are so many things to occupy our time–kids, chores, social media–and it can be devastating to our marriages. None of those are worth sacrificing your marriage so take the time to cut out the noise and listen to your man. Pay attention to what he’s saying and just be there if he needs you.

Enjoy sex. Not acting like it’s a chore. We all have those exhausting days where all we want to do is fall into bed and sleep. But what your man really wants is for you to stay awake a few minutes longer and reconnect with him before drifting off to sleep. And enjoy it.
What you and your man have is amazing so don’t let our society’s stance on marriage ruin your relationship. Of course, you both want to be in a happy place, so try these 12 Ways to Keep Your Man Happy and let me know how they worked in your home. A happy man makes a happy family (or is it a happy wife makes a happy life…?). 

What ways do you spark your marriage and fan the marital flames?