Best ways to help your man in the yard

This might be an area where you feel like telling me, ” Seriously? I think I know what I’m doing in the yard!” And let me make myself clear. I’m quite sure you know what you are doing in the yard, and only want to give tips on how to help your MAN. We all will have our own specific ways to doing things, and I think its important that when our man puts his mind to doing something, we should be there to encourage him.

Try these simple tips next time your man decides to take on a project in the yard.

• Hydrate him: If your man is anything like mine, he will get an idea to do something, and work ALL day at it. He probably won’t think to eat until he’s so hungry that he could pass out and drinking is the last thing on his mind. That is where you come in, by bringing him water. This might seem trivial, but if you want your man functioning the following day or even that evening, you make sure he stays hydrated.
• Feed him: Start thinking about what he would like far before even you are hungry, keep in mind that if he is working physically hard and you are not, he will probably be needing the calories before you even feel hungry. Also try to think of the way he responds to different foods when you are planning his meal. You want him to feel energized and ready to get back to work rather than relaxed and ready to take a nap. Give him notice that you will have lunch ready about 5-10 minutes before so he can start thinking about food and then when the food is ready, he will be too.
• Do not nag: The last thing he will ever want is to feel like you are being a mother to a child rather than a wife to a husband. Men don’t like it when you try to take care of them all the time.  When you come out with your glass of ice water and he says “no thanks”, set the glass down close enough that when he does get thirsty he can easily reach for it instead of ignoring the thirst and carrying on. This way, you are being there for him without nagging him.
• Be willing to be the GoFer: If you have never heard this term before and are planning a working date with your man, be prepared to giggle. He will probably ask you to ‘gofer’ this and ‘gofer that. As well as he tries to plan, he will be working along and run into an obstacle that he just didn’t anticipate. It would be very helpful if you jump and ‘gofer’ what ever he asks, even if it means going to the store for the tenth time that day.
• Be encouraging: Timing is everything. If your man is lifting something extremely heavy or in the middle of something that’s taking a lot of focus and you’re standing on the side lines calling at him “that’s my man, good job honey, keep up the good work…” He isn’t going to take this as positive re enforcement, he is going to be irritated that firstly you’re not helping, and also you’re are being distracting. However, once the job is done, “Wow honey that looks wonderful, you did such a good job.”  He is going to feel very proud of what he did as well as grateful that you noticed all the hard work he put into it.

Men really just want you to be there for them, when you are supportive and encouraging it shows them that you really trust and respect them. These principles not only apply to working in the yard with him, but in all things.