“How can I get my husband to talk to me?” Tips for engaging the strong, silent type

Aug 27, 2019 | Ideas, listening, Marriage, relationships

husband talk So my husband is a classic introvert, which may (rightly) make you wonder what it’s like being married to a person like yours truly.

He’s also a friendly introvert. His entire occupation is dedicated to taking care of people, and sometimes his entire day is full of meetings. With, y’know, people who talk.

That is to say, sometimes he arrives home with The Look on his face.

The Look is a very kind one, mind you. It’s just a little strained around the edges, bulging with other people’s words he’s been kindly receiving all day.

I, on the other hand, work at home all day. So I’m delighted to see him! My best friend to process with! Yippee!

Uh-huh.

So together, he and I have learned a lot about this funny dance when one of you likes to externally process more than the other. We’ve actually got a good rhythm–but it’s not one we just woke up with one day.

I’m writing over at FamilyLife.com today about 7 Ideas to Get Your Husband to Talk to You.

Want to hop over and check it out?

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Janel Breitenstein

Author | Speaker

I’m totally #thatmom–the one diving into all the weirdness with my kids, sidestepping a few eyerolls. Pull up a chair for practical ideas and discussions on the parenting, relationships, and spirituality we’re all army-crawling through every day.

I’m a speaker, freelance writer, and author of Permanent Markers: Spiritual Life Skills to Write on Your Kids’ Hearts (Harvest House, 2021); Deliver Us from Meltdowns: And Other Real-World Prayers for Parents (Andrews McMeel, September 2025); How to Stop Yelling Up the Stairs: Keeping Your Cool While Raising Your Kids(Kregel, April 2026), and Emotionally Strong(ish) Parenting: 7 Shifts for a Resilient and Jesus-Centered Home (NavPress, September 2026).

My work can be found on Christianity Today, Focus on the Family, and FamilyLife. After five and a half years in Uganda, my family and I returned to the U.S., where we continue to work on behalf of the poor.

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