It’s hard being sick. But it can be just as hard on caregivers. When you’re fighting a minor or major illness or recovering from an injury, you need to rest. Your caregiver can enable you to do that by bringing you food and drinks and making sure you’re comfortable. A caregiver may also be in charge of bringing you the necessary medication or help you get around.
If your caregiver is your husband, he has other responsibilities outside of helping you. He’ll need to step up his responsibilities around the house. He’ll shoulder the bulk of parenting responsibilities if you have kids. In short, he’ll have a lot on his plate. But a little appreciation can help lessen the burden.
Here are some of the ways you can thank your husband for stepping up during your time of need or say, “Thank you, husband, for taking care of me.”
1. Write a Thank You Note
A thank you note is one of the simplest but most effective ways to express gratitude to your caregiving husband.
It’s a lovely gesture to take the time to write out the reasons you’re thankful for him. Handwritten cards can feel especially sweet and sincere. The best part is, this is something you can easily do from your bed.
2. Make a Social Media Post
Let’s be real: You’ve probably complained about your husband online before. Even if you haven’t done it on your main Facebook page, you probably have a private mom group or a small group chat where you’ve vented about his lackadaisical approach to household chores. And that’s okay!
It’s just as important to acknowledge when he’s gone above and beyond. Making a public post thanking your husband for his efforts is a great way to show appreciation. He’ll not only receive gratitude from you, but he’ll also appreciate seeing how much your friends and family members admire him, too.
3. Keep a Gratitude Journal
Being in bed for a lengthy recuperation can be frustrating. It can also be incredibly boring. A gratitude journal is a great way to keep your mind and hands busy while you recover from an illness or injury. It gives you a creative outlet and is an excellent way to pass the time. It can also help keep you in a positive mindset.
Staying positive can be an integral part of accelerating the healing process. Be sure to note all the specific ways your husband helps out each day. You can praise his patience with the kids. You can talk about how helpful his emotional support has been. You can compliment the way his cooking skills have improved.
When you’ve recovered, go through your gratitude journal with your husband. He’ll appreciate seeing how thankful you were for him throughout your recovery process.
4. Make Him a Thank You Gift
There are all kinds of things you can do from your bed. You can use this time to craft heartfelt thank you gifts for your spouse for taking care of you.
Talented at crochet? Make an adorable amigurumi yarn figure of his favorite video game character. Skilled at scrapbooking? Put together a memory album of your relationship throughout the years. You’ll be able to pass the time and express your gratitude.
Read our guide on the best gift ideas for caregivers for more inspiration.
5. Buy Him a Thank You Gift
Some of us don’t necessarily have a particular gift for arts and crafts. But that’s okay! Everyone is good at shopping. Pick out the perfect caregiver gift for your husband online.
You can get him a gift certificate for his favorite music store. You can get him a subscription to a wine of the month club. You can get the newest audiobook for his favorite author so he can listen to it on his commute.
The important thing is to put some thought into getting him something super special and personalized to him. The best gifts are ones with a lot of thought put into them.
6. Give Him a Break
You may be stuck in bed, but you don’t need to get out of bed to help your husband out.
There are many ways you can help relieve his burden. Get a family member or trusted babysitter to pick up the kids overnight. Place a grocery order to save him a trip to the store. Hire a cleaning service to come deep clean the house so he can have the day off and put his feet up. Order a nice dinner from his favorite restaurant and make plans to eat it together. If you can swing it, do all of these things!
They’ll show him how much you appreciate his efforts. It will also demonstrate that even when you’re at your sickest, you want to take care of him, too. In the best relationships, both partners take care of each other.
7. Write Down the Story of Your Relationship
Another way to stay busy during a recuperation period is to write. Many people have a dream of writing the great American novel or crafting a bestselling memoir. That’s obviously a tall order for most people. But you can start smaller. Instead of writing your life story, write the story of your relationship.
How did you and your husband meet? Was it love at first sight? Do you remember your initial impression of him? What was your first date? When did you realize you loved him? Do a deep dive into the history of your relationship.
When it’s done, share it with your spouse. He’ll be flattered that you spent your recovery thinking about how much you value him.
8. Say “Thank You” Out Loud (and Say it Often)
Recovering from an illness or injury can be challenging. You might be in pain from a knee reconstruction. You might be sick from chemotherapy. You might be sleepy and detached from pain medication. It’s easy to get frustrated and cranky in those conditions. But don’t forget to say a simple thank you to your spouse.
Even if you feel sick to your stomach, express appreciation for the toast and ginger ale he brings you. This won’t just make him feel better — it may help lift your own mood, too.
9. Say It With Flowers
Women aren’t the only people who enjoy receiving flowers. Sending flowers to your husband can be a romantic gesture, too. You can even give it a fun code-breaking element that might appeal to him. Use floriography, the language of flowers, to send a secret message of gratitude.
For instance, agrimonia, hydrangeas, and pink roses all signify thankfulness. Call a florist and request a special arrangement featuring all three. It will be an unexpected gesture of gratitude in more ways than one.
10. Send a Fruit Basket
Caregivers are also at risk of getting ill. If they’re taking care of someone with a contagious illness, they might catch it. Even if they don’t catch something from you, they might get run down.
Encourage your husband to take care of himself by getting him a nice fruit basket. It’s a tasty treat that’s also full of important nutrients that can help keep him healthy. If you play your cards right, he may even share it with you.
11. Put Together a Themed Gift Basket
You know your husband well enough to know his interests.
Is he a coffee aficionado? Buy a gift basket with a nice grinder, a french press, and an assortment of high-end coffee beans from around the world. Does he love craft beer? Put together a gift basket of local IPAs or stouts. A customized gift basket is a sweet and thoughtful way to express appreciation.
12. Buy Him a Book for Caregivers
If this is your husband’s first time being a caregiver, he may feel like he’s in over his head. Get him a book for caregivers. This is an excellent thank you gift because it will relieve a lot of the anxieties he may be having. Caregiving can also feel really isolating. It will help him to know that other caregivers share his worries and frustrations. Y
ou can let him know he’s doing a great job, but reading a book written expressly for caregivers can give him a perspective on the experience that you can’t.
Thanking Your Husband
Your husband may not know what to say when someone is sick. But that doesn’t always matter. Actions speak louder than words. If your husband has really stepped up during your illness or injury, he deserves a thank you.
Even if you’re stuck in bed, you can come up with thoughtful and creative ways to show your appreciation. Recovering from an illness or surgery is difficult. Let your husband know that you couldn’t have done it without his support. Your gratitude will mean the world.