Who let the dogs out? Not you. You are officially banished to the dog house! Let’s face it, the dog house is the last place you want to be. Whether listening is not your strong suit, or you have a bad habit of losing track of time, being on your significant other’s bad side is not a place you want to be.
The phrase “in the dog house” came from the notorious scene in Peter Pan where the dad banished himself to the dog house as an act of remorse after his kids got kidnapped. Now, the phrase is used as a reference for punishment. It could be that you forgot an important event or neglected your spouse’s time. Regardless, you never want to do time in the dog house. You may not be literally in the dog house but sleeping on the couch is not the most comfortable of sleeping situations.
Take a ride on the safe side with these 10 ways to stay out of the dog house...
Listen to Her.
Let’s face it. All she really wants is for you to listen to her, and why shouldn’t she? In every relationship, listening is the key to success. If you are having problems and are going to counseling, odds are the therapist will make you listen. All good things take time, but even the most cherished of artifacts must be preserved in order to withstand the test of time.
The same goes for relationships. Sometimes, it takes hitting rock bottom before we truly take the time to listen. Many times, the simple day-to-day arguments can be resolved just by listening to the other person. It is astonishing how many arguments have formed simply by a lack of communication. This goes for men, women and any and all relationships out there. Do you listen to what she has to say, or did you zone her out, nod your head and wait until she walks away to reign back into reality? Think about it. She doesn’t want to nag you. Take the two minutes to help her with what she asked help for, and your relationship will be better for it.
Do the Little Things.
Let her pick the movie. You don’t always have to have control over the remote. Surprise her with some flowers. She doesn’t care what kind. You could go pick some wild flowers from the side of the road. She’ll proudly display them in the kitchen for everyone to appreciate.
In reality, all you need to do is take the garbage out without her having to ask. The littlest gestures will mean the most to her. Go out of your way to do something you think she would love. It will not only keep you out of the dog house; it will have her falling in love with you all over again.
Make Dinner.
You are tired by the end of the day. We know the last thing you want to do is clean or cook dinner. NEWS FLASH- Neither does your significant other. They are also tired and just want to sit down and relax with a cold drink. You don’t have to be an expert in the kitchen. Volunteering to cook dinner or surprising your significant other with dinner will make your relationship fuller and more fulfilled. You know what they say, the way to the heart is through the stomach.
Be Honest.
DISCLAIMER: Being honest doesn’t mean you can be rude. All she wants is for you to feel comfortable enough to talk to her. She wants to be reassured that you need her, want her and feel comfortable speaking to her. Insecurity can be the thief of joy. Taking the time to be honest and open up to each other when things are hard (or even when they are easy) will make all of the difference in your relationship. Honesty truly is the best policy not just in life but in your relationship.
Make Time.
Time is one of the things in life that cannot be replaced. We make time for the things that are most important to us. You can’t make excuses. Make time. Cut and trim your schedule where it is needed to ensure quality time with the person you love. Make time to do things that she loves to do. Maybe that is going for a walk after dinner or watching that cheesy reality show on Monday nights. If you make time for her, she’ll make time for you. It will help you grow together even as the years go by.
Take Her on a Date.
Never stop dating. This is a common mistake made across most relationships. Yes, with time, date nights become harder to plan and gradually dwindle until there are little to none left. Parent-teacher conferences are the closest thing you get to date night. Romantic, right?
Don’t just take her out. Ask her out. Have a movie and dinner planned on the weekend, or get your parents to watch the kids, so you can have a night to yourselves. Taking the initiative to plan and execute date night will do wonders for your relationship. What are you waiting for? Make the first move! Never stop pursuing her, and your relationship will never get stagnant.
Be Romantic.
Romance is subjective. Some people are more accepting to romance than others. Some people are more romantically inclined. However, romance doesn’t have to be an elaborate, expensive gesture. Romance can be found on the note you put in a lunch you packed for your significant other or by taking the time to wash their car because you know they haven’t had the time to.
Romance can be found in the extra thirty minutes you let her sleep in because you know she has been up with the baby all night. Romance is felt when you tell her she is beautiful when she is feeling low or in a good morning text to kickstart her day. Romance doesn’t have to be an out-of-this-world gesture. Romance is found in your partner’s love language.
Studies show it only takes four minutes to decide whether you like someone or not. Who says the few minutes it takes to do something for your special someone won’t make a huge impact? Romance changes over time, and it is different in every relationship.
Romance is defined as a feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love. Spontaneity and sheer desire to make your significant other happy embodies all that romance has to offer. Just as any small act of kindness can lead to a profound impact, any and all romantic gestures can lead to a more fulfilled and prosperous marriage. Never stop trying to win each other over. Fall back in love every day.
Show Her Off.
She’s beautiful. Tell her. She’s special. Show her. She is the love of your life. Let everyone know. She wants everyone to know you are her one and only. Remind her she is yours to. Those cheesy Facebook posts and #ManCandyMondays are her attempts at showing you off. It doesn’t have to be a public post to social media. It can be a short love letter you take all of 10 minutes to write. Pair it with some of her favorite snacks and have it waiting for her when she gets home from work. Better yet, deliver it to work. She won’t be able to stop smiling.
Pamper Her.
Pampering her can mean a wide variety of things. If her feet are hurting, massage them. If you hate feet, get her a pedicure. Learn your wife’s love language and use it every day. If she is a talker, sit with her during that pedicure and let her vent about her day. It’s that simple.
This goes back to the importance of dating your spouse. The honeymoon stage wears off. A lot can change in a year. You don’t want to be caught so far behind that it seems impossible to catch up. When you take someone for granted, specifically your spouse, love is lost over time.
In every relationship, it is important to take care of yourself physically, emotionally and spiritual. It is equally important to take care of your spouse. Understand you can’t fill a void or be the source of all their happiness. Neither of you are perfect. There will be times in your lives where you disappoint each other. You can only enhance who they are now. A relationship can’t be one-sided. It can’t be 50/50. It must be 100/100 in order to flourish in a way that is healthy.
Never Stop Growing.
Say I love you, and say I love you often. Be kind to yourself and to each other. Tell her she is beautiful. Don’t lose the value in your relationship. Being a gentleman should never stop. Be the man she fell in love with. Even when you grow and even as you change, stand firm on the love that brought you to where you both are now.
Many marriages end in divorce because both parties have changed. They change and go in different directions all while being in the same relationship. Romance is worth the investment and time. It is one way to ensure that no one is neglected. Romance is a path you both can follow, so you both can grow together.
With 168 hours in a week, how much time are you truly investing into bettering your relationship? The dog house is a figurative punishment granted to “disobedient” husbands. All it means is that you are arguing over some circumstance that happened in life, and there is an understood tension between the two of you.
Where do you and your partner stand and why? Why is it that you and your significant other are where you are in your relationship? Are you happy with where you stand? When it boils down to the grand scheme of things, you don’t need 10 ways to stay out of the dog house. All you need is the right mindset and the desire to be better, do better and work for what you want.
Relationships can be work- a lot of work. However, the overall reward outweighs any effort that is put in. You’ll have a best friend for life. You’ll have a partner by your side. It is truly priceless.
Let our florists at 1-800-Flowers Greenrose in Phoenix, AZ help keep you out of the dog house with one of our stunning flower arrangements. Have it delivered straight to your sweetheart with a note expressing how much she means to you. It doesn’t have to be a holiday, a birthday or an apology. The most loved and effective gifts are spontaneous gestures that come straight from the heart.
Don’t be fooled. These gifts are always cherished and loved, but when they are given to get out of the doghouse, they lose value. Don’t use something beautiful as a scapegoat because then that is what it will be associated with. Use them as a reminder of how much you love her and how your relationship is worth every bit of effort and time put into it.
Just as a flower arrangement wilts and dies when it is not properly taken care of, so does a relationship. Without effort to preserve it, a relationship fades in the passion that once fueled it and loses the chemistry it once possessed. The choice is yours. Live together with separate lives, or live together as best friends, lovers and soulmates.
It all depends on the two of you. How much do you want to have that ideal love story? Never go to bed angry. Never leave without saying, “I love you.” Never take for granted what so many desire- the love of your life and a life together. It is truly one of life’s greatest blessings. Never take that for granted. Be willing to work for it every day.