Spouse Appreciation Activities (Marriage & Family Relations)
Return to Sego Lily
Intro Page
Return to Homemaking
Page
This can be found on site homemakingcottage under "romancing your spouse".
They are already decorated and ready to cut. Might be under holiday
(Valentine) also. Have fun & Happy Valentine's Day, Toni
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contributor: Linda Butterfield
Good morning, sisters,
Here is the list of appreciation activities for couples that everyone requested.
My daughter-in-law did these in her ward last year and they were a
great success. They decorated jars and then placed strips inside the
decorated jars. The idea is to randomly pick out one per week. Possible labels
might be: (1) Romance Soup, Contents: Contains various
ingredients for a lasting and rewarding relationship, (2) Jar-O-Romance,
Roses are red, Violets are blue, when your spouse is happy, so are
you!
I appreciate the opportunity to share this with all of you and I hope
it will be of help. Enjoy!
Linda
Give your husband a ten-second kiss every day this week when he comes
home from work. See the difference this makes.
Rent a comedy video this weekend and lighten up! A good laugh is worth
a lot to relieve stress and make us feel more rejuvenated.
This week compliment your husband at least twice. Try to pay close
attention to all the things he does for you and take the time to recognize
them verbally.
Make three “I love you” calls this week.
This week you and your husband make a “wish list” of 20 or more possible
gifts you would enjoy receiving during the next year. Keep these lists
in a safe place filed away for future reference. When there is a birthday,
an anniversary, a holiday, etc., you’ll have your handy list to refer to.
No hassle, no guesswork, no fuss!
The longer you are together, the subtler your romantic gestures can be.
The better you know one another, the more meaningful your gestures can be.
This week -- Caress with your hands. Listen with your heart.
Kiss with your eyes!
Remember that love will add more to your life than any diet or exercise program.
And for you parents who may feel guilty about being romantic for fear
that you’re taking time, money, or attention away from your kids –
you are hereby absolved!!! When you give to your mate, you give to
your children. There is no better way to teach love than to practice
love. (You know that kids are much better at watching and emulating
than they are at listening.)
Rent a cabin this weekend or go camping together. No TV, no phone,
no radio. Talk to each other and get reacquainted.
This week tape a note to the bathroom mirror that says, “Good morning,
my sweetie. You are looking at the man I love with all my heart.
You mean the world to me today and every day.”
This week write him an original poem. If you don’t feel that creative,
buy him a book of poetry or check one out of the library. Read him
some of your favorite poems that you think he would enjoy.
Buy tickets to a concert, go to the theater or a symphony. Take a
carriage ride if you live near a big city or any event that you deem special
and out of the ordinary for your usual dates.
This week make a cassette tape for your husband. Tell him how much
you love him and why, followed by a poem you’ve found or written, and
ended with a mix of songs you’ve selected that have special messages
or meaning to the both of you. He’d love to have this to listen
to on the way to and from work.
This week put a message in a helium balloon on his car at work. Alternatively
it could be written on a heavy piece of construction paper taped to
his steering wheel. This week be generous with compliments about
why you married him and how wonderful he is. For example: “You
have a great sense of humor.”, “You make me feel secure because you provide
so well for me and the family.”, “You make me feel secure because you
are always loyal and faithful.”, “Your kisses are terrific!”, “The
very thought of you coming home day fills me with anticipation.”, “You
are my favorite person to be with.”, “I love sharing my life with you.”
This week for your Friday night date cook a meal together. You might
try a new recipe you’ve never tried. Set the mood for your husband
by already having the table nicely spread with tablecloth, napkins,
dishes, flatware, and silverware . . . and don’t forget the candlesticks!
Ahead of time buy your husband a book by one of his favorite authors
and present it to him after you meal is over. Tell him to relax
on the couch while you clear away the dishes.
Save this one for the week of his birthday. Throw a surprise You-Are-Special-Party,
inviting his friends and co-workers. Encourage them all to write
something about why he is so wonderful. Plan a special toast
to him. Yes, he may be embarrassed, but he will love every minute of
it, and will be the envy of every man at the party.
This week arrange a profusion of candles in the bathroom. Prepare a
bubble bath. Play some nice romantic music. Pour two glasses
of sparkling cider to toast away the cares of the day. Get into
the tub and then call your husband, “Honey, I forgot my towel.
Could you please bring it to me?” (This is a sure way to capture his undivided
attention!)
Save this one for a night when there is a full moon. This week take
a walk and make a wish upon a star. You could take a blanket,
find a nice spot, lie back, and enjoy the awesomeness of the heavens.
This Friday tight take a trip to your local library for the evening.
It’s fun to be able to read all of your favorite magazines and not have to
subscribe to them each month! Of course there are a myriad of books
to choose from and also a modest selection of videos and books on cassette
to check out. This really can be a fun evening for most people and
it costs no money.
Here is a good idea for all of you who like to dance. Your local
library has instructional dance videotapes for ballroom dance, swing, country
and western dance, line dance, etc. These videos can be checked out
for a week at a time at no cost. This is fun! Most men
love to dance if you can just get them to try it. It is usually
a matter of lack of confidence that makes them shy away. The
videos are great because just the two of you can learn without an audience
to make him self-conscious.
Save this one for an occasion when you want to give him a special gift. Instead
of flowers sent to the office, send him a few small tools he is in
need of with ribbons or bows attached to each one and placed in a vase.
Or he might appreciate a new CD or cassette tape. Play it that evening
over dinner or by the fireside or for bedroom music.
This week issue a ROMANTIC REPORT CARD. Grade each other A-F in the
following categories: intimacy, creativity, gifts, communication, thoughtfulness.
Be sure you talk about this one! As you are honest with each
other, this can help you enrich your marriage in many ways. Keeping
the lines of communication open is very important in every marriage.
This week write your husband a thank you note. Make a list of 25
things you are thankful for and appreciate about him, things you are thankful
he does for you, and ways he blesses your life.
Write a love letter this week. Tell him how much he means to your.
Review pleasant memories you have shared. Send it through the mail
or to his office as a surprise. It is more romantic that way.
Perfume it and seal it with a kiss!
When daily life gets “too much” – when you’re frazzled – what’s your favorite
escape? Where’s your favorite hideout? What’s your favorite leisure
activity? Do you know your partner’s answers to these questions?
This week on your Friday night date, or sometime during the week, gave
a nice discussion about these issues since knowing the answers to these questions
can be of great value to both of you.
This week prepare a five-course dinner – and serve each course in a different
room of your home. Choose any rooms you wish, but dessert must
be served in the bedroom. Bon appetit!
Rent an old movie this weekend, or a new release you haven’t seen, and
watch it together with popcorn and your favorite soda on a mattress you’ve
put on the floor. Cuddle under a warm blanket or soft down comforter.
Enjoy the movie and each other.
This weekend dedicate a song to your husband by calling a radio station
that takes dedications. Make sure he is tuned in and listening at the
time the dedication is aired. This would be a fun surprise!
Tell your husband you love him every day this week.
Begin each day this week with the words “I love you” whispered to your husband
while you’re still in bed. It will set the tone for your entire
day. End each day this week with the words “Thank you” whispered to
him before you drift off to sleep. It will help bring you peace.
This week buy or make note cards, one for each day of the week. You
might place one in his sock drawer, one in his clothes closet pinned to his
suit or clothing he is wearing the next day, one tucked in his lunch bag
or box, or one in his briefcase. Use your imagination!
Say it with scent and satin this week – make your bedroom extra special
for this Friday night date at home. Make your bed with some silky satin
sheets and pillowslips (or you might prefer nice new crisp cotton sheets).
Sprinkle a little of your favorite powder or perfume between the sheets
so they smell nice. When your sweetie enters the bedroom, have the
lighting turned down low, or perhaps off, with a candle burning on the
nightstand, and have him find your favorite nightie draped across your pillow.
This week pamper your husband with a nice warm bath – lots of bubbles
too! In addition to the bubble bath, have the lights turned off and a candle
or two lit for atmosphere. Bring in a portable radio so you can have
soft music. Take him by the hand and lead him into the bathroom.
If you both can fit into the tub, that is even better. If not
you can take turns. Give him a nice soothing massage when you
are done.
Schedule a lunch date one day this week with your husband. The idea
that you are taking time out of your busy day to be with him will make him
feel special.
This week send him on a present hunt. Begin with note #1 on his
pillow. The note should include something you like about him and instructions
to find the next clue, and so on. End up at your mailbox and have a
present in it. It doesn’t have to be anything expensive. The
thoughtfulness and your use of imagination with this activity will
be enough to show that you love him.
This week send him a no-occasion gift. It would be nice to send it
to the office or his workplace because giving a gift that others know
about definitely spells romance. Receiving a gift this way often makes
it doubly special.
This week write your husband a love letter. Buy some special
stationary. Many stores have decorative stationary that you can by the sheet.
Tell him how much he means to you. Write some of the wonderful memories
you’ve shared together. Write about when you first met, your first
date, your first kiss, your engagement, your wedding, the birth of your children,
anything that will convey your special loving feelings and appreciation
for him. Be sure to encourage your husband to reciprocate. These
letters can be very precious and likely will be kept forever, someday
maybe even shared with your grandchildren. This is a good one
to repeat again and again. Also these letters can be valuable to re-read
when marital challenges come into play. These loving sentiments
have the power to melt away protective walls we often put up during
these times and help put lives back in proper perspective.
This week give each other an index card. Write down five things that
you would like him to do for you this week and vice versa. Do them
this week.
This week sleep under the stars. This is sure to be a romantic night.
You can do this in your own back yard. All you need is sleeping bags
or blankets and your pillows. A tent for privacy would be nice, too.
An air mattress would be great. This might be a good evening
for Dutch oven cuisine, toasted marshmallows, and warm hot chocolate.
Declare your sweetie “King for a day” one day this week, probably on a Saturday
when he is home. Begin the day with breakfast in bed (You could
even pick up a king crown at Burger King and have him wear it for at
least a moment or two!) Pamper him with foods and activities that you
know he will enjoy throughout the remainder of the day.
This week, schedule an evening with another couple or two with whom you
both enjoy keeping company. Plan some fun games and good food.
In your planning think of a few compliments you can give to your mate
in front of your friends. He may act embarrassed, but secretly he’ll
love it. Remember a compliment has at least twice the impact
when it is said in front of someone else.
Bring him breakfast in bed one day this week. Most department stores
sell a breakfast tray of some sort. This is a great investment if you
don’t already have one as it can be used for both of you over and over again.
Bring him his paper if you get the paper, or if you have a TV in your
room, he may like to watch the morning news and weather while he enjoys his
meal.
For this week’s date go into town for dinner, a movie, or to shop for something
you have been needing for the home or office. When you are driving,
each of you selects a car color. Every time you see your car color,
he has to give you a kiss. Every time he sees his car color,
you have to give him a kiss. (Make sure you pick a common color!)
At the end of the game, whoever has the most points (kisses) gets a
wish granted. You can decide on the stakes at the beginning of
your trip. You’ll be shocked at how fast time flies when you’re
having fun.
This is a fun couple exercise to do over dinner one evening this week.
Each of you writes down your personal definition of these words. Compare
your answers and discuss. (There are no right or wrong answers.)
LOVE, MARRIAGE, HAPPINESS, INTIMACY, PASSION, COMPROMISE, COUPLE, MASCULINE/FEMININE
This week go for a drive with your husband along some scenic route you
like. Bring along your favorite CDs or cassettes and listen as you drive
and catch up on the day’s or week’s happenings.
Each day this week tell your partner one specific thing you love about
him. You might keep in mind that compliments given in front of the children,
family, or friends have added significance and impact. Not only is
this a powerful way to show love and appreciation from the recipient’s point
of view, it is an excellent example for child-parent modeling. The
examples children see in their youthful years while growing up, to a great
extent will carry forward into their own homes and personal relations when
they reach adulthood.
This week each day (or at least a couple of times) hide some little
treat for your husband. One day he might find a Symphony bar in his
sock drawer with a note that says, “We make beautiful music together.
Let’s make some tonight!” Or, “There are more hugs and kisses
waiting for you when you come home tonight” attached to some candy
hugs and kisses treats in his coat pocket. Or, make him brownies for
lunch and enclose a note inside the wrapping something like this, (If you
liked this treat, just wait till this evening after dinner. I
can hardly wait till we are together!” Stretch your imagination!