I overheard a conversation and was very surprised.

[Helovesmehelovesmenot]

My DH and I have a fairly good relationship on the whole our DC's are grown up and we are fairly well off. Nothing to really moan about. Except he has a really difficult time telling me how he feels and I have spent most of our marriage thinking he loves me but feeling there needs to be a bit more from him, I would like him to tell me that and also to say something nice once in a while, he doesn't say anything horrible just nothing nice IYSWIM. Anyway last night I went to bed early as he had a friend round and I don't like him as he stinks of garlic! I was awake and I was listening to my husband telling this bloke just how much he loves me, how proud of me he is, what a great wife I am and a fantastic mother. It was getting a bit sickening after about an hour TBH!! But my issue is, why can't he tell me these things, I felt great when he came to bed and I said what have you been talking about then and he said oh you know, the usual, well if that is the usual conversation why can't he just tell me? Made me sort of love him loads more though!

Aw . That must have been lovely.

Have you asked him if he could be a bit more verbally appreciative? Do you say nice things to him?

Or maybe even admit you overheard and tell him how happy it made you. Might prompt him to want to inspire the same feelings again?

That is so lovely, though must be incredibly annoying for you
I second the idea of telling him you overheard some bits of the conversation and how pleased you were.
Life's to short to keep things like that to yourself. Daft man!

This thread has made me really happy

Maybe start by saying nice gushy things to him and he might take the lead from you.

Either way at least you know how he truly feels. I'd rather have what you have then some gushy fucker who can turn nasty in a blink of an eye.

That's lovely! I am similar to him, find it extremely hard to speak my feelings, I rarely do, though I wish I could. Maybe tell him you overheard, and how you'd love to hear more of it. But don't hold your breath!

Gosh, for close on an hour? Was he trying to sicken this poor guy who was visiting? Make him green with envy? A man who possibly didn't love his wife, was bored and was in a sexless marriage I don't think I'd like to get too much of that if I visited someone.
Not trying to pour cold water on how lovely it was for you, but just a bit sorry for the bloke who had to listen patiently for so long

Why was he telling his friend all this?

How lovely is that?!
Sad you haven't felt all that loved untill now though.
Awwwww give him a big hug [soppy]

It was lovely, and he did get a big hug, his friend was at it too, they were like a pair of women!. Maybe all men are like this and we just don't know!! Neither of them were that drunk either, it was all so very sweet and I know the other blokes wife and she is not that nice about him!

You might want to try an exercise I do with my DS who struggles a little with self-confidence. (Tip... This works particularly well on a long car-journey.) You take it in turns to start a sentence 'What I like and appreciate about you is...' and then finish it with some compliment about the other person. It's a little contrived but at least it gets the conversation going.