Although a healthy marriage looks appealing from the outside, it requires much effort and work.
So, what should a man bring to a marriage?
Just like a woman, a man’s functions in a marriage are important.
There are certain responsibilities and duties mapped out for both the husband and the wife, which helps ease the burden off each of them and makes marriage easier.
The man used to be the breadwinner and the woman, a helper, and carer, but times have changed, and things are different now.
These days, a man and woman can switch roles and still maintain a peaceful and healthy marriage.
Are you married or about to get married?
You need to know what the modern man is all about and his set roles in marriage.
It’ll help you know what to expect in your marriage and avert unnecessary arguments.
In this article, we’ll look at the roles of man in a marriage.
Let’s get to it.
What Should A Man Bring To A Marriage?: 10 Important Things
1. Unconditional love for your wife
One of the most important things a man should do in a marriage is to love his wife unconditionally.
Trust and love are the foundation of any marriage with genuine intentions.
The two qualities cannot be separated – there’s no love without trust or trust without love.
One of the main duties of a man in a marriage is to love his wife.
As a man, you need to satisfy your wife’s emotional needs by constantly reassuring her that you love, cherish, value, and respect her.
And let it not be just verbally; put in the work, man.
I know that women are moved mainly by what they hear, but it’s not true in this case.
We’re talking about marriage here.
You might have gotten her attention and kept it through the friendship and courtship stages with words (which will be pretty difficult to pull off without actions), but you need to step up your game now.
Marriage is a long time to rely on just word of mouth.
As you’re saying them, be doing them.
The reassurance is more solid when actions are backing it.
So, if you tell your wife you love her, you must show her that you do.
2. Protect your family
Don’t you want to hear your wife say she feels safe around you?
Or don’t you like the warmth that spreads across your chest whenever she says she feels safe in your arms?
Apart from love and every other lovey-dovey feeling, another thing a man should make his wife feel safe.
Another primary responsibility of a man to his wife and marriage is to protect them from every type of danger.
It’s a man’s duty to protect his wife and children in all aspects – emotionally, mentally, psychologically, and physically.
Your family should feel secure and safe whenever you’re around.
3. Visionary leadership for your family
Statutorily, the man is the head of the family.
Although roles are now being shared with women in this age and day, you must lead certain duties and take over your responsibilities at home as a man.
Please remember not to be bossy while discharging your duties as the leader of the family.
The man’s Visionary leadership will impact the family in many ways and keep the family afloat even in tough and rocky times.
4. Respect your wife
On your mission to protect your family, don’t forget that it’s your duty to protect your wife’s dignity too.
A man must respect his wife both in private and in public.
Refrain from discussing your wife’s personal issues with your friends or other family members.
Your relationship with your wife should be very private to you.
You need to hold it in high esteem and keep it sacred.
Not talking about the private things that concern your wife is a way of respecting her and upholding her dignity.
And while at it, be patient with your wife.
Your wife is human and can never have the same thoughts and behavior as you.
There’ll be times when some of her actions will not sit well with you.
Be patient with her.
Do not dislike or criticize her for the little errors she commits.
Instead, appreciate her personality – it means that she has a mind of her own and doesn’t need to be always told what to do.
Most times, your wife has the good interest of you and the family at heart while doing most of the things she does.
Be gentle with her while pointing out her shortcomings.
Also, never criticize or correct her in the presence of other people.
Such corrections must be done in the confines of your home or bedroom.
5. Treat your wife right
Treating your wife well should come naturally to you if you love her.
Do not miss out on playing and goofing around with your wife.
How else do you unwind and free yourself from life’s pressures if you can’t let it out with your spouse?
While at it, don’t forget always to be a gentleman with her.
How you treat, talk to, and relate with your wife says a lot about how much you value her and your marriage.
If you have children, know they’re watching your every move, and your actions will rub off on them.
How you treat your wife will show them how to treat their spouse in the future.
Please, don’t forget to listen to your wife.
Your wife’s opinions matter.
With marriage being a joint venture between you and your wife, you are equal in marriage.
A good man should ask for her opinions, listen to his wife, and take her views on issues concerning his children and marriage.
You have to consider her opinions and thoughts because she has an equal say in such matters.
Your wife will see from your actions that you also value her.
6. Make your wife feel special
If left unchecked, daily life routine can rob a marriage of its romance.
One of the duties of a man in marriage is to make his wife feel special from time to time.
You can achieve this by giving her breakfast in bed, romantic dinner dates, buying her surprise gifts, cooking her a meal, helping her fulfill a wish on her list, and other thoughtful things.
The list is endless when it comes to making your wife feel special.
It’s not in the enormity of the actions; it’s the thought behind the actions that matter.
And the good part?
It doesn’t take a lot to make a woman feel special.
Just little things here and there, and your wife feels like she has the world at her feet, courtesy of you.
Don’t forget the saying, ‘Happy wife, happy home.’
7. Wholeness to the family
Men need to bring wholeness into their families.
Some men have poor and bad mentalities and ideologies that will affect the family negatively.
If you’re one of such men, you need to leave such things outside the door before venturing into marriage and starting up a family.
It’s important that you unlearn, learn, and heal from the bad experiences that have affected your mentality and how you view life.
You need to drop all the toxicities that you picked up from bad environments.
Life is beautiful, and you don’t need to conclude otherwise because of a tiny skewed perspective.
If you must see the beauty of life, you need to cleanse your heart of every toxicity.
Please do it for yourself and your family.
So you don’t continue a cycle of hurts with your children.
Hurting people always hurts others.
You can get professional help in navigating this.
Not only will you be basking in positivity, but your wife and children will also be lucky enough to see life through wholesome and beautiful lenses.
8. Fun for your family
As a man, you’re expected to bring fun into your home.
Do not be the father whose kids scamper for safety and go into hiding whenever he comes home.
Loosen up; life’s not so serious.
Be approachable – it’ll help your kids be comfortable with you and open up about any challenges they face.
That way, you’ll have a good relationship with your children.
You want to be the cool Dad who is fun to be around, right?
Make out time to play with your wife and children.
Try not to overreact when they make mistakes.
They’re human beings, and we all make mistakes.
Correct them with love and gentleness.
You have to be fun for them to see you as fun.
9. Service to his family
A man needs to be ready to serve his family.
Service here isn’t only referring to financial provisions.
As a man, you need to help your wife out with the children and some of the house chores.
Some men believe caring for the children and doing house chores is exclusively for women.
Who made the rule?
Don’t you know you’re bonding with your children when they ask you questions while you bathe, feed, or dress them up?
Besides, you’re setting a solid example for them in the future.
By then, they don’t need to be told what to do because they saw their Dad do it.
It’ll be no big deal to them, and they’ll conveniently avoid the league of men arguing over the duties of men and women in the family.
10. Humility and being teachable to his wife
As a man, you need to be open to learning in a family setting.
Most times, your wife is always at the home front while you’re away at work.
She knows many things in the home; even if new things spring up, she has the internet to put her through.
Suffice it to say that she has a load of experiences in your home, no matter how shortly you’ve been married.
So, if she tells you certain things about the home, it’s because she’s seen them firsthand.
Instead of arguing, just do as she says because no matter how much you argue, you’ll end up at the exact thing she said.
And you have to be humble to be teachable.
I mean, it’s your wife we’re talking about here.
Why would you want to raise your shoulders for her?
She wants nothing but the best for you and the family.
So, please, you need to bring humility and teachability to your home.
It’ll do you and your family a lot of good.
Conclusion
The role of a husband in maintaining a peaceful and healthy marriage is of great importance.
A loving husband and father is the anchor of the family.
You must know that much effort, love, work, loyalty, and dedication go into nurturing a family.
Please, don’t burden yourself with being a perfect husband or father.
Always be open to your wife about your expectations, concerns, and boundaries.
With great love and shared responsibilities, you and your wife will build a healthy and happy family.