Too many women readily step into the role of mother after getting married. I’m not talking about having children right away; that’s a personal choice. I’m talking about mothering their husbands.
Your husband (despite how things may appear at times) does not want you to become his pseudo mother. While he may like the fact that you take care of him, and even feign helplessness when it comes to washing his own clothes, he really doesn’t want to be treated like a child.
If you become your husband’s mother, there is a very high risk that he will eventually leave you. Does that sound a bit extreme? Well, take a moment to think about it. As children grow, find their own identities, and become more independent, they gravitate away from their parents and their childhood homes. They are looking for their own place in the world, which is one reason kids rebel. A child must push, must break away, in order to become his or her own person. Your husband will do the same, even if it is a subconscious process and even if it takes a long time, he will eventually break away.
No one likes to be nagged, and it isn’t effective anyway. While you may get your way, you will also create irritation and resentment. Instead, try to find more positive ways to get your husband to do the things you’ve been asking him to do or to get rid of his bad habits.
Although we are supposed to care for our husbands, we can’t force them. Speaking for him at the doctor’s office, demanding that he follow certain regiments or try remedies, and smothering him, isn’t going to make him more receptive. It will make him even more determined to ignore symptoms and warning signs and he certainly won’t want to discuss such issues with you.
Try not to mother your husband. He is a grown man and needs to be treated like one. Give him the respect he deserves, and he will return the favor.