Welcome to the board, Gita.
You may not realize this, but you are extraordinarily lucky. (You're good with words, too.)
Many, many people never come to this realization that, despite what we know in our hearts, our sense of self-worth actually comes from the inside-out, and not from the outside-in.
Do you have any idea how rare this awareness is? My hat's off to you. (Or, rather, my helmet...)
It sounds like your husband is a lot like most men. Generally, we're not nearly as big on talking and words as women are. I recall reading a study recently that essentially counted the number of words people use in a day, and the study broke down the numbers along gender lines. Seems that women use, on average, about 40 to 50% more words in a day than men do. (I'll try to find a reference for the study and post it, if you're interested.) That's not good nor bad, it just is.
I'm a big believer in asking for what you need. So if you want him to praise you for things you do well, then tell him that. Gently look him in the eye and say something like, "Sweetie, it means a great deal to me when you tell me that I did such-and-such well. I'd like to hear it more often, it makes me all, well, romantic and squishy inside. Will you do that for me?" Then give him a hug and kiss.
He'll hear the words, he'll see the look in your eye, then he'll feel the hug/kiss and associate all those good things with your request. And when he does, reinforce his words with positive feedback. Another hug/kiss would be nice, or maybe just even a warm smile. Please don't fall into the trap of, "Oh, it was nothing" or "You really think so?" because that won't give him the positive reinforcement.
Congratulations again on your self-awareness. You're to be commended.
Good luck!
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