BE CAREFUL! Stop and think carefully before you act or say a word or make a facial expression.
If you say ANYTHING to them regarding them being more masculine, it will hurt them, they will resent you, treat you badly, and refuse to do a single thing you suggest. It is part of their masculine nature to resist being led and told what to do by a woman.
Instead there is something VERY FUN for you to do, that will DELIGHT them and ENCOURAGE them in their God-given masculinity.
This is it:
Be feminine yourself.*
Concentrate on a feminine appearance and manner and spirit for yourself (1 Peter 3:1-6). Smile and sing happy songs and hymns to yourself while going about your feminine domestic duties in a dress or skirt. If he begins talking to you, let him talk and ask him questions to encourage him to talk openly (without judgments). Never say to him, "That's not nice!" Of course he isn't "nice;" he's a man, not a woman. Don't try to make him be a woman. Just listen and pay attention to him. Don't interrupt him, not to talk to the children, or for any reason (unless the house is on fire, of course). Or if he doesn't want to talk, then let him be silent and watch TV or read a newspaper without interruping him to talk to him about anything. Sometimes a man just like to be in the same room (or car) with a woman in silence with no conversation.
As opportunity arises, oooh and ahhh over his muscles and his know-how on masculine subjects, such as money management, his work, opening doors for you, carrying heavy things for you, fixing a car or some mechanical/electrical object, his driving, etc. If there's anything that needs doing that requires heavy lifting, grease, paint, electricty, a screwdriver, a ladder, or wearing denim, refer it to him. And then praise him profusely, and make him a favorite snack or meal.
Never wear dungarees (jeans) or Dockers; that's menswear that women have adopted as part of feminism. God says men and women are different with division of labor, yet compatible (Gen. Ch. 1 through 3); but feminism says men and women are the same and in competition and conflict. Feminism is a wicked, Marxist form of rebellion, which causes rifts among families along gender lines. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry (1 Sam. 15:23).
Let go of a need to control the outcome of every single thing. Let him make the decisions and solve the problems for a change. Don't worry about it; let him deal with it. He'll do a fine job. Wear "jewels" in your hair, take a luxurious bath, and wear perfume and silk. You will both love it!!
It goes (almost) without saying, that a lady would never, ever contradict her husband in public or tell any man what to do. Ever. It's the opposite of feminine, and the woman who does it is a "harpy" or an ugly gargoyle (at least temporarily) in the eyes of any man, and worse, in the eyes of God, who observes her doing such (2 Samuel 6:15-25). After all, It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman (Prov. 21:19). If you have done this, apologize for it sweetly, for a gracious woman retains honor (Prov. 11:16) Let him do things his way, and then praise him for his initiative, leadership, and good judgment. He will blossom in his masculinity, and you will thrill to him. In this way, you will work to serve and strengthen him; and he will work to serve and take care of you (Prov. 27:18)
For more reading on this topic, here's a lovely blog post from Heart for home-making called "Learning to be ladylike - gentlemen."
* If there are any men reading this, it also works the other way around. If the women in your life are too masculine/not feminine enough, then concentrating on your own masculinity will cause the women around you to blossom in their femininity.
