What Matters Most

Want to be a happy couple that is together for ever? Well, Redbook (March 2013) found out what matters to women the most in their relationships and what matters most to men in their relationships. Surprisingly, it is not really what you think it is, from a women’s perspective that is.

What Matters Most to Women: “He’s a good listener and give you his full attention.”

This comes at no surprise to me. This is the biggest thing for most women. I’m always hearing women say, “he doesn’t listen to me” or “he doesn’t know what I like because he never listens.” Why do you think so many women fell in love with the almighty Christian Grey in 50 Shades; while he was a bit over the top, he paid the utmost attention to Anastasia. We just want to be heard from all distractions, so gentlemen, put the iPhone done and just listen for 15 minutes; you’d be surprised what you discover.

What Matters Most to Men: “She thanks you for doing things around the house.”

This one shocked me. In a day of two income families, I would think men would have already embraced a share the load mindset. Perhaps the have, but they still need the “atta boy” when they fix a toilet or replace a light bulb. I say, gratitude is nice, and if men need their partner to acknowledge their at home projects, that’s easy enough to do. 

Moral of this story is: show each other appreciation. If he listens about your work day, tell him he did a nice job vacuuming the house. If she tells you you’re a master of cleanliness, listen to her talk about all the other moms at dance class. It’s simply communication, and it can provide a lifelong feeling of importance in a relationship.