Dear Husbands,
Guys, some days I'd
just love to be among your ranks, if only because, seriously, women
are SO easy to please! Maybe that sounds like the world's biggest fib
to you, and you're probably not alone if that's what you feel, but I
can assure you it's the truth. Anyway, I'm writing this letter to
help you out a little during the Christmas season. At my house, as the
month of December wears on, I inevitably start to sense my husband's
stress level increase as each day passes and he realizes he is one
day closer to Christmas with no present for me and, worse, no idea
where to start! This is really all an unnecessary process, and I hope
today to spare as many well-meaning men out this unnecessary unpleasantness. It's not rocket science, guys, here's what you do...just be thoughtful and get your wife a Christmas present she will like.
(Cue eyeroll) I can hear you thinking...Easier said than done. I
don't know what she wants. Or she already has everything. Well,
it can be done, yes you do know, and no she doesn't have everything. I can hear how
complicated that sounds, so I'm just going to lay this right out for
you...Husbands, here's a list of things your wife wants for
Christmas....
She wants to be
pampered – It's tough being a lady, a mom, a wife, and women love
to be pampered! They love (NEED) time to nurture themselves or be
nurtured by others. Here's the trick though--pampering will look different for every woman. Ask yourself, what does your wife love to
do for herself? Does she love a pedicure? Does she love time alone?
Does she do yoga? Does she feel fantastic after kick-boxing class?
How does she re-energize? What makes her feel like her needs matter?
Gift her that. For me, this gift would be a gift certificate to a
spa, but maybe, for your wife it would be a yoga retreat, or a
cooking class (be careful with that one!) or a massage. And if you
REALLY want to please her, book the thing and arrange childcare so
all she has do is show up and feel awesome!
She wants a date –
For the woman who 'has everything,' why not book her a date!? If
you're married with young kids, maybe arrange a date for the two of
you. If you're free as birds and get enough of each other, arrange a
date with her besties to do something they love to do. The key word
being 'arrange'--she will feel so much more thought of, so relieved
of the stress of doing the 'arranging', if you go this extra mile!
She wants an
oil-diffuser – Whoa, DO NOT go buy your wife an oil-diffuser.
That's what I want, and I have told my husband this on a number
of occasions. What has your wife told you? Listen to her words, all
throughout the year. Look at items she picks up and leaves behind
with a bit of longing in her eyes. Make notes of these things. Not
mental notes, those things go missing like nuts at a squirrel
party... Put them in your phone or something, and when a special
occasion comes along, you're covered!
She wants tickets – What's
you're wife into? Music? Theatre? Jamaica (if you have the $$)? A
certain band? Does she keep saying she wouldn't mind seeing the
opera? Buy her tickets for something that would interest her. This
shows some thought and possibly the intention that you intend to
spend this time with her! Double win.
She wants
something from that store she loves – Are you tired of finding bags
and receipts from a certain store at your house? It's because your
wife likes that store (no, NOT Toys R Us, dummy)! Take a hint, buy
something for her there and if worse comes to worse, she can return
it and get something she does like!
She wants
something _________ . Pretty? Useful? Fun? Relaxing? What's a
thoughtful word to describe your wife? For me, the word that best
fills that blank is 'useful.' I LOVE useful presents, and you know
what's useful? Gin. Gin is useful for me, and quite honestly I would
be happy with a special bottle of that. Not every wife would. Maybe
your wife likes pretty things. Get her something pretty. Maybe she's
fun! Send her on an adventure or gift her some activity she's never
tried before like paint-balling or an escape room. Give it some
thought. I promise it will not go unnoticed!
She wants your
heart – Forget Christmas, this is what your wife wants 365 days a
year! And when I said women were easy to please, this is EXACTLY what
I was talking about. She wants your heart more than any gift you
could give her. (No, that does NOT mean you shouldn't get her a
Christmas present). For Christmas, she wants a thoughtful present and
your heart. Easier said than done? Bullshit, husbands. Spend some
of the season playing a game or doing a puzzle with her. Put down
your guilty distraction and see what happens. Ask her about her day.
Talk about yours. Express concern about something that has been
difficult for her. Cuddle up and watch a favourite movie—you
make the hot chocolate and popcorn. Write her a love note. Do it
again tomorrow, and next week, and on February 3rd and
Easter Monday and on Tahitian Independence Day. Give her encouraging
words, EVERYDAY. If you do that, I promise you'll be well on your way to
understanding just how easy women are to please!
Merry Christmas,
husbands! And best of luck!
Signed,
A Hopeful Wife
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