I’ve yet to see a healthy marriage in which both parties are happy without respect being a major part of their lives.
Even among friends, the absence of respect can spell doom for that relationship.
This is because respect is the bedrock of any thriving relationship.
It’s like the thread that holds the fabric of a relationship together.
Without it, the fabric unravels, and all the other elements of love, trust, and communication fall apart.
When respect is present, it strengthens the connection between spouses, making their love grow deeper over time.
Respect in marriage isn’t just about the big gestures; it’s crafted into everyday life.
How you talk to each other, resolve conflicts, and treat each other in front of others.
Respect is the golden rule that keeps the love burning brightly.
Respecting your husband isn’t about saying you respect him only through your words.
It is also not just about the things you do; respect is also seen in the things you don’t do.
There are things that wives who respect their husbands avoid doing.
Wondering what they are?
10 Things Wives Who Respect Their Husbands Never Do
1. Yell at them
Something about yelling at people brings them low and makes them feel small.
Even kids hate to be yelled at.
However, many women fall into the trap of yelling at their husbands, and sometimes, they may have valid reasons.
Their husband may have pissed them off or done something remarkably silly.
However, the respect wives have for their husbands constrains them from shouting at him or making negative comments about him, especially in front of others.
Women who respect their husbands know that blowing up at them, even in jest, can deeply wound their pride and damage their relationship.
Some women undermine their husbands’ authority even in the presence of their kids.
While they may say, “I’m just giving him a piece of my mind,” wives who are intentional about showing respect know that doing that would demean them before others.
A respectful wife stands by her husband’s side, particularly when parenting.
If she disagrees with his methods, she discusses it privately.
Undermining him in front of the children can cause confusion and create disunity in the family.
2. Hold grudges and weaponize intimacy
Getting mad unnecessarily and using intimacy as a weapon against your husband is not only a sign of immaturity, but it’s also a sign that you don’t ‘rate him’ much.
A wife who respects her husband keeps intimacy separate from conflicts or negotiations.
Respectful wives don’t hold on to grudges unnecessarily or bring up past mistakes continually.
They’d instead work through disagreements and forgive than hold on to past mistakes.
Wives who hold their husbands in high regard don’t use old arguments as ammunition during new conflicts.
Neither do they withhold physical affection as punishment or leverage.
They understand that such things undermine the emotional connection in a marriage and can create distance and resentment.
3. Invalidate them
Disregarding their husbands’ stance is another thing wives who value their husbands don’t do.
Downplaying his opinions doesn’t show respect in any way.
So even when she disagrees with him, a respectful wife acknowledges her husband’s feelings and thoughts.
Dismissing his concerns or brushing them off as unimportant shows that he doesn’t mean much to you.
There will be times when couples disagree with each other’s opinions, but showing respect means listening and acknowledging each other’s feelings regardless.
Validating his opinion before communicating your perspective shows him that he’s important.
This applies to his goals and dreams too.
A respectful wife supports her husband’s goals no matter how big, small, or unrealistic his dreams are.
She encourages him even if they seem far-fetched, knowing that mocking his ambitions can crush his spirit.
Mocking anyone’s dreams can be demoralizing.
A wife who respects her husband supports his ambitions and encourages him to pursue them.
4. Talk negatively about them
Any woman you see who constantly speaks negatively about her husband doesn’t respect him.
Respectful wives avoid habitually venting about their husbands to their friends, even during rough patches.
They know that gossiping about their husbands’ flaws or shortcomings doesn’t help in any way.
It may feel temporarily relieving, but all it does is undermine the relationship and create unnecessary negativity.
So, they’d rather protect their husbands’ reputations by resolving issues privately rather than broadcasting them to their social circle.
5. Try to control the relationship
Some women do this subconsciously, especially if their personality, experiences, or position has made them feel the need to be in control constantly.
However, showing honor to your husband would require you to loosen your grip on control.
Wives who respect their husbands know that relationships are about partnership, not control.
They don’t micromanage or dictate every decision in the marriage.
Instead, they foster an environment where both partners contribute equally.
A wife who tries to dictate every decision in the marriage diminishes her husband’s role, making him feel stifled
6. Belittle their efforts
Respect begins with appreciation.
A respectful wife never assumes that her husband’s acts of love, care, or support are a given.
She regularly expresses gratitude, whether it’s for his help with her work or emotional support during tough times.
Even small acts like handling the laundry or taking care of household repairs deserve acknowledgment.
Dismissing these efforts can make a husband feel undervalued and taken for granted.
It doesn’t show respect so a respectful wife stays away from it.
She never downplays her husband’s achievements, no matter how small.
For instance, she appreciates even the little things he does, like fixing a light bulb or helping with chores, because every effort counts in a partnership.
There are situations where the wife earns more or plays a bigger financial role than the husband.
Yet she never diminishes her husband’s contribution.
She values his effort as a provider and the hard work he puts in, whether it’s financial, emotional, or otherwise.
7. Make major decisions without them
Marriage is a union but it doesn’t take away your autonomy.
You still have the choice to do things your way and make your decisions.
However, when respect is at play, couples consider and involve each other in their respective decisions and lives.
In a healthy marriage, decisions should be made together.
A respectful wife knows that excluding her husband from important decisions, like financial investments or family vacations, can make him feel powerless.
You can’t do something as major as buying a car or deciding on children’s schooling without consulting your husband yet claiming to respect him.
You’re only sending a message that his opinions don’t matter.
8. Complain incessantly
Communication is key but nagging isn’t.
Nagging is even more of a padlock.
Respectful wives avoid nagging because they understand that repetitive complaints create distance and frustration.
Instead, they find constructive ways to express their concerns.
They hold their husbands in high regard and it is reflected in how they bring up matters to him.
9. Compare him with other men negatively
Comparison is such an easy trap to fall into.
We compare our lives with others and can be tempted to compare our spouses too.
But part of showing respect for your husband is understanding that he’s his own person.
While he may not be perfect – no one is – negatively comparing him won’t bring the desired change.
Wives who value their husbands never compare their husbands to other men, especially when it comes to qualities like success or romance.
Comments like, “Why don’t you act more like so-and-so’s husband?” can damage his self-esteem and trust in the relationship.
Every husband has unique strengths.
When a wife compares him unfavorably to other men, it creates insecurity and division.
Respect means valuing him for who he is, not wishing he was someone else.
10. Disrespect them
I know, I still used the word respect” but sometimes people don’t pay attention to the word.
Wives who respect their husbands do not disrespect them.
They understand the importance of giving him personal space and time, prioritizing him, and revering him.
For example, if he enjoys some activities like watching sports or reading, she doesn’t downplay his need for me-time, interrupt, or unnecessarily demand his attention.
The way she relates with him shows that she honors him.
These behaviors all center around maintaining respect as the foundation of a healthy, balanced marriage.
Mutual respect makes both partners feel valued and prioritized.
When a husband respects his wife’s dreams and ambitions, he is essentially saying, “I believe in you.”
And when a wife respects her husband’s boundaries and efforts, she’s saying, “I honor who you are.”