Chocolates and flowers are nice, but it's the small things in day-to-day life that really make a difference in your relationship and who your wife how much you care.
-
TELL HER you love her.
-
Plan dinner and make it. (Try these really delicious AND healthy 400-calorie meals or our recommendations for quick and easy meals.)
-
Buy flowers just because.
-
Offer to care for the kids while she takes a bath or reads a book in bed.
-
Do the dishes.
-
Turn off the game on TV just to spend some time together.
-
Make her a card from scratch (no matter how limited your skills—she'll love it so much more) and tell her how you feel about her.
-
Make the bed.
-
Arrange a ladies' night with her friends.
-
Encourage her to pursue activities and interests that can make her feel happy and pursued—and help her to be able to do so.
-
Hold her hand while you're at the grocery store or in the car.
-
Plan a date for the two of you and don't tell her what any of the plans are. (Check out our great list of 50 fun and cheap date ideas for inspiration.)
-
Make a list of things you love about her, write them on sticky notes, and hide them all over the house so she'll continue finding them throughout the week.
-
Thank her for things she does around the house regularly that you may take for granted, whether it's cooking, getting the kids ready for school each morning, or anything else.
-
Notice something she has mentioned needing to replace or been wanting and get it for her.
-
Go shopping with her to help pick out new clothes. She values your opinion and wants to know you think she looks good, and she wants to spend time with you.
-
Take care of finding the babysitter when the two of you want to go out.
-
While you are at work, send her a text message telling her how much you love her.
-
Give her a foot massage.
-
Post a love song to her Facebook wall.
-
Go for a walk together. (Just the two of you - no kids.)
-
Finally get around to that project she has been asking you to do.
-
Write her a poem. Not a poet? Find a classic poem online that reminds you of her.
-
Run some errands for her.
-
Give her a long kiss when you come home from work.
-
Pick out a movie she would love (but that you would normally veto) and watch it together.
-
On your next date, make an extra effort to look your best and get dressed up for her.
-
Like her blouse? Think her hair looks particularly nice that day? Tell her. Specific compliments go a long way.
-
Recreate your first date or other memorable moments during your courtship.
-
Put the cereal back in its place after breakfast and your clothes away at the end of the day.
-
Come home early from work one day with dinner in hand. (If you can't come home early, let her know beforehand that you've got dinner taken care of.)
-
Thank her often and verbally for being a wonderful wife and mother. Mention specific things you appreciate.
-
Take the trash out before she asks.
-
Find and frame an old photo of your early dating or married days. Give it to her for her nightstand or desk.
-
Tell her how beautiful she is. Often.
-
Buy her favorite book for her.
-
Give her hand a kiss.
-
Tell her what you loved most about her when you first met.
-
Tell her what you love most about her today.
-
Fill up her car for her.
-
Cuddle with her on the couch after the kids have gone to bed and let her tell you about her day.
-
Vacuum the house.
-
Treat her to a mani-pedi at the spa.
-
Leave a short and sweet note on the bathroom mirror for her.
-
Surprise her with a clean car.
-
Sit next to her in church rather than with all the kids between you.
-
Make a to-do list with her of all the things you'd like to do in the next year. (Fun things, big or small, not tasks!)
-
Go on an extra fancy date to the orchestra or something out of the norm.
-
Take a picture of her on your phone when you think she's being cute with the kids or any other time.
-
And, because it bears repeating: TELL HER you love her.
This article was originally published on LDS Living. It has been republished here with permission.
