The BRO Code for Wives

Tell him when he got it right.

Men run on respect the way trucks run on diesel. A little goes a long way.

Say what you want out loud.

He is a good man, not a mind reader. Give him a fair shot.

Plan the date sometimes.

It will surprise him more than any gift.

Be on his side in public.

Disagree at home. Present a united front at the in-laws.

Laugh at his jokes, at least the good ones.

And one bad one a week, as charity.

Let him do it his way.

The dishwasher is loaded wrong. The dishes will still get clean. Mostly.

Be faithful in the small things.

Your conversations, your messages, your attention. Big faithfulness is built out of little ones.

Encourage his friendships with good men.

A man with good friends is a better husband. Guard those fishing trips.

Thank him for the ordinary things.

Nobody applauds the man who checked the tire pressure. Be the first.

Keep money talks calm and regular.

A budget meeting with snacks is practically a date.

Keep the friendship alive.

Before you were running a household, you were two people who liked each other. Keep liking him.

Guard your marriage from outside opinions.

Your friends only hear your side. They are a jury with half the evidence.

Give him a few minutes when he walks in the door.

Let him land the plane before you hand him the checklist.

Don't criticize him to your friends.

You will forgive him after you make up. They will remember him the way you described him.

Don't correct him in front of the kids.

Save it for later. He will hear you better without an audience.

Don't make him guess why you're upset.

"Nothing is wrong" has never once, in the history of marriage, meant nothing is wrong.

Don't keep secrets about money.

Surprise parties are the only good kind of secret.

Don't compare him to other husbands.

Her husband posts flowers online. Yours fixed the water heater at midnight. Pick yours.

Don't let the kids push him to the edge of the family.

The best thing for your kids is a marriage at the center of the house.

Don't stop flirting with your husband.

He is still the guy who was nervous asking you out.

Don't bring old arguments into new ones.

One fight at a time. The 2019 thing can stay in 2019.

Don't let your phone get your best hour.

He would like the version of you the group chat gets.

Don't say "fine" when you mean anything else.

Don't treat his hobbies like the enemy.

A man in his garage is a man who is not wandering the kitchen asking what is for dinner.

Don't forget he needs encouragement too.

He will never ask for it. That is how you know he needs it.

Don't stop saying thank you.