What to Do for Your Husband’s Birthday

Chris and I have been in a relationship for his last two birthdays. However, this will be his first birthday as his wife, and I want this birthday to be special. The problem I have is finding an appropriate gift that Chris will enjoy. You see, Chris is not materialistic and doesn’t yearn for stuff. He is not interested in gadgets or clothes, and he already has all the golf equipment he needs. Don’t even think of getting him a watch or tie either.

Before he was full-time in ministry, Chris was a vice president of a major investment firm on Wall Street. Even though he had a very substantial income, he never was interested in accumulating stuff. In fact, what he enjoyed most was giving to other people. He always blessed others in large and small ways (you couldn’t pay for dinner when he was with you!). He used his financial acumen to bless his parents so that they could enjoy a very comfortable retirement. That giving attitude is a great quality for him to have, but it also makes him a terrible person to shop for. Well, maybe terrible is a bit severe. What Chris does appreciate are simple things that are thoughtful. The first gift I ever gave him was a German chocolate cake made from a box mix.

I am a gourmet cook….not baker!

It was so ugly, but I had no shame! I baked it at my parent’s home, and then drove four hours to New York to bring it to him. What amazed me was the sight of him relishing it like a gourmet confectionery from some four star patisserie in Paris. He really appreciated my thoughtfulness in trying to do something special for him.

We still get a chuckle every time we remember that first birthday gift.

So if your husband is as difficult to shop for as mine, here are a few suggestions that might work for you.

• 1) Make his favorite meal and dress up in your sexiest outfit while doing it. I mean the full nine yards – hair, makeup, and very, very high heels. Feed him the meal in a sexy way by leaning into him and wiping his mouth for him. Make sure you get up to give him seconds and that he doesn’t have to lift a finger.
  2) Give him the day off. Let him lie around and do whatever he wants that day while you serve him. Start with breakfast in bed, and then take over his chores.
  3) Give him an intimate coupon book. You can create as many (or few) coupons as you want. Each coupon will be redeemable for intimate things such as an oil massage, foot rub, and ummm, I think you can catch the drift. You can also mix it up with “get out of chore” coupons. From taking out the garbage to vacuuming, whatever his responsibilities are for the house, he can get out of it with one of these coupons.
  4) Plan a boys night for him. Call up his friends and arrange for them to surprise him and take him out for wings and ball game. Men love bonding with other men and being able to let loose. No…I would in no way condone a strip club or anything like that. That is a fool’s night out, not boy’s. FYI…This will only work if he doesn’t get out regularly with them.
  5) If his b-day is near a major sports event invite his friends over for a sports/b-day party. Make your best dishes and wait on them as they enjoy the game. This will make you man feel like the man. His friends will all be envious of his wife, who waits on him hand and foot without complaining. Many ego points will be earned.
  6) Send him to the golf range. If he enjoys golf like many men do, then think ahead and buy him a tee time and invite his friends. If you aren’t able to wrangle them up, book him as a single. Most times he will latch on to other guys who are playing. He will enjoy the 4-5 hours of golf time and you unselfishly giving him a Saturday to himself.

If you have noticed, most of these gifts are based on food, sports, being lazy and sex. Anything in one of those four categories should put a smile on my husband’s face. What would you give your husband?