Compliment is important in any relationship.
Whether you want to admit it or not, we all have a need to be appreciated and validated, to hear from those closest to us that we are good friends, good partners, good people.
When we do something right — say, handle a situation or task properly — it’s good to hear about it from our partners, friends, and children.
When we make a decision, it’s usually good to know that our partner supports us.
It might not seem like a big deal, but the right compliments for men are the fuel that keeps them moving, that helps them stay productive, healthy, and in the right direction.
When it comes to compliments for men, the more specific the better.
With that in mind we talked to several men about the kind words they would like to hear from their partners.
Some are looking for acknowledgments about their parenting skills, while others are interested in hearing about their value as husbands. See what they said:
1. “I appreciate everything you taught me.”
“My kids are all grown up now. They are 18 and 20. I think the best thing you can say to a parent is ‘I appreciate the lessons you taught me.’ As parents, all we want for our children is for them to grow up as upstanding citizens of the world.
And seeing them being molded into one is one thing, but for them to realize how hard you’ve worked and then show gratitude and appreciation is heartbreaking, to say the least. I noticed this with my own father too.
Once, when I told him how grateful I was to have talked to him about parenting, treating other people, and just life in general, that’s when I saw him at his happiest.
It was also one of the rare moments when he sprouted and showed some emotion. I think being a parent and making sure you did a good job is something that will stay with you for the rest of your life. ” – Jack , 55, California
2. “Your children are so kind.”
“In the evening father/teacher of my children’s school than I was blessed to hear that one of my children in particular is so good to everyone.
The teacher said that when they had a special needs child join the class, my daughter was the first, and only one to raise her hand when she asked who would like to show her and take care of her during the first week of school. .
It warmed my heart. We give back to our local community, we are in the habit of taking the kids with us all the time.
I believe that as we visit homes and centers that represent large numbers of people who haven’t had the best start in life, she has learned to be kind and inclusive.
Nothing can beat that ‘proud parent’ feeling and hearing little things like this are treasures to hold on to when my patience is running out! ” – Tim, Wisconsin
3. “Your friends are great”
“I’ve known my circle of friends for over 20 years. We grew up together. We went to university together.
We had a lot of good times. So when I met my wife, I was really excited to introduce her to them. It was a little weird at first.
I think they got jealous because I started spending so much time with her. But they accepted her, and she accepted them, and that was it.
Since they are such an important part of my life, I would love for her to tell me that she also enjoys their company.
They love her. They tell me all the time how good they think she is. And I know she likes them, but I would never get tired of hearing her say that.
It is a great compliment to know that you are surrounded by good people. ” – Billy, 43, West Cornwall, UK
4. “I always trusted your decisions”.
“I would like my wife to tell me that, even if it is sometimes. Recently, my marriage has gone through an upheaval and I’ve always had to make good decisions to keep us moving.
My partner has praised me for a lot of things, but I’ve never heard her praise me for the decisions I make, which makes me feel like my decisions don’t sit well with her.
I wish she would realize how much a compliment like that would give me energy and give me the confidence to trust myself more often.” – Alex, 35, California
5. “You are a great cook.”
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, I work from home. As we settled in, I took on the responsibility of cooking for my family.
I even signed up for several cooking classes to improve my skills, and I think I’ve become pretty good.
But my family has not shown much appreciation for my hard work and the food I prepare. I’m pretty sure I’m a good cook because my co-workers always compliment me when I bring them leftovers or dishes.
I was praised for them. So I would like to hear this from them, just to add to my feelings of gratitude. ” – Craig, 38, Texas
7. “You Get More Patient Every Day.”
“Being a parent is hard, no matter how natural it seems.
As the child of a first grade teacher and a pediatrician, I have always been comfortable with children and love to interact, tell stories, play, create, and explore.
But finding time and patience for parents isn’t always easy when I have my own business, prioritizing exercise, adding a role as a nonprofit Executive Director, and being a supportive spouse. I don’t need reassurance that I’m a good parent, or fun, or funny.
But acknowledgment of how difficult it is in our hectic days – especially as the three kids/young people get older but still want us to help make decisions – would be great.
If I’m truly seen as more patient, I know that translates to more support, more love, and more parenting. ” – Ray, 53, Denver
8. “You are ‘Man Enough’”
“I always grew up wanting to be a masculine man. Since I was a child it was something important to me.
Hearing my wife say that would make my day. Nowadays, almost every boy and man is somehow faced with the challenge of not being masculine enough.
I’ve always felt insecure about it, and not being ‘man enough’. So hearing a compliment like this from the most important woman in my life would help me recognize and validate all the efforts I’ve made over the years.
I want to be a strong male role model for my wife and kids, and hearing her say I’m doing a good job would make me feel strong and fulfilled. ” – Sumeet, 32, India
9. “You are so creative.”
“I have many creative hobbies. I paint. I sculpt. I sketch. These are all things I do to relax, but also because I’m really passionate about being creative.
My wife praises what I do, but I often feel like she’s just saying things in passing.
She doesn’t ask about my projects, or what inspires me, or anything beneath the surface.
I try to be interested in her hobbies by learning about them and then praising her as sincerely and often as I can.
And I think I just don’t feel like that’s reciprocated. At least not in a way that makes me feel like she cares too much about what I’m doing. ” – Andy, 39, Pennsylvania
10. “You look great.”
“I’ve been working hard to lose weight and get healthy. And I’ve lost about 20 pounds since last year. My wife noticed and encouraged me, but it feels like a must.
I want her to be attracted to me and tell me so. I worked to get to where I am on my own, but also to get my body back to where it was when we first met, fell in love and constantly told each other how we were attracted to each other.
I tell her all the time how great I think she looks, and I mean it. Now that I’ve gotten really close to my old self, I want to hear her praise me for it. It would make me feel really good about the work I did and, more importantly, wanted as a husband. ” – Robert, 44, Florida
11. “I believe in you”
“I’m not the most confident guy in the world. My wife knows this and highly respects my hypersensitivity.
What would mean more to her, though, is hearing that she believes in me.
I just changed careers, for example, and I’m extremely excited about it. It’s been a very stressful time and I’m doing the best I can.
I would love to hear her say she believes in me. Like grabbing me by the face, looking me in the eye, and completely exaggerating in confidence. I know this is incredibly needy, but it would be a huge help to help me feel like I can do it. ” – Jim, 39, Ohio
12. “I trust you and I’m on your side. “
“I feel like I fight a lot of our battles alone. Like, we recently had a problem with our neighbors that got really heated.
Long story short, they were being idiots and I wanted to report them. My wife didn’t want to start anything. I think she said, ‘Leave me out of this.’ And that happens a lot.
Not just with the neighbors, but when we have problems that we need to face together.
Hearing her say she’s on my side would be a compliment, because it would make me feel like we’re on the same team and that she’s committed to our relationship in the face of this kind of disgust. ” – Christopher, 36, Indiana
13. “You are a good father.”
“A lot of parenting is just winging it and hoping you’re doing the right thing. We have a new child and I can’t even begin to describe how many days I just go to bed thinking.
‘What am I doing?’ My wife telling me I’m doing a great job – or even a good job – would go a long way in making me feel like I’m giving my kids a good life.
I try to tell her all the time what a good mother I think she is.
And sometimes I even ask openly, ‘Am I doing a good job?’ I know it’s unrealistic to expect her to say that every second of every day, but once or twice a day I would make sure I’m not screwing up all the time. ”