Is He A Grown Ass Man Or Just A Boy? How To Tell The Difference

Is He A Grown Ass Man Or Just A Boy? How To Tell The Difference ©iStock/vitapix

The difference between a boy and a man isn’t just about age — it’s about maturity. As a modern independent woman, you don’t deserve some immature playboy messing with your heart and screwing up your love life. So before you fall head over heels into heartbreak, you might want to ask yourself one simple question — are you dating a boy or a man?

  1. Men aren’t afraid of commitment. Boys run at the first sign that you want more than just a casual relationship. They don’t know how to be serious or why anyone would ever want to be caged by a ball and chain. While boys see a serious relationship as a jail cell, men can appreciate how lucky they truly are to have an amazing woman like you.
  2. Men take responsibility for their actions. Boys blame their mistakes on everyone and anyone else. Nothing is a boy’s fault, so can you handle taking the brunt of all his mistakes? If you want a partner who takes responsibility, can admit when he’s wrong, and can give a sincere apology, leave the boys behind and date a man.
  3. Men aren’t afraid to be vulnerable. Boys see vulnerability and emotions as weak. The truth is, boys are the weak ones. They’re scared of opening up and showing their emotions. They’re afraid of getting hurt so they never take any risks in relationships. Men know that with great risk comes great reward, and they’ll never be afraid to tell you how they feel.
  4. Men care more about your opinion than their bros’. Boys care so much about what their friends think that they put their reputation before your relationship. They’ll ditch you for their boys and make it seem like your serious relationship is just a casual fling. They’re afraid to act like they really care about you. Men know that love is never a weakness, so they’ll always treat you with respect, regardless of whether or not their bros are watching.
  5. Men don’t let their ego get in the way. If you hurt his feelings, can he open up and tell you that? Or does he let his bruised ego fire back just to hurt you in return? You need a man who doesn’t get offended when you tell him what you want in the bedroom or out of it. Boys can’t handle the truth, so date a man who will never let his ego get in the way of your happiness.
  6. Men don’t run when things get hard. Instead, they stay and work things out. Boys will call it quits after every little fight, but men stick it out to find resolution. Boys expect every relationship to be easy, and if it’s not, they move on to someone else. The problem’s not with you, it’s with him. What you really need is a man who will always be there for you, even when times get tough.
  7. Men care about your needs. Boys always put their needs far ahead of your own because they’re selfish in love. They only care to have you around if the relationship is somehow benefiting them. A boy would easily cast you aside if a better deal came his way. What you want is a man, because a man will never make you feel like your needs don’t matter, like you don’t matter. A real man could never truly be happy if you weren’t happy, too.
  8. Men know how to make you a priority. Boys can’t find the time to text you back, let alone have a date night. They’ll always have time for sex, but never for conversation. Boys will always make you aware of the fact that you could easily be replaced. While boys make you feel like you’re nothing, men know that you’re everything. You need a man who knows how to make you feel important, so give up the boys who make you question your self-worth.
Kelsey Dykstra is a freelance writer based in Huntington Beach, CA. She has a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing from Grand Valley State University and been writing professionally since graduating in 2013. In addition to writing about love and relationships for Bolde and lifestyle topics for Love to Know, she also writes about payment security and small business solutions for PaymentCloud.

Originally from Michigan, this warm weather seeker relocated to the OC just last summer. Kelsey enjoys writing her own fictional pieces, reading a variety of young adult novels, binging on Netflix, and of course soaking up the sun.

You can find more about Kelsey on her LinkedIn profile or on Twitter @dykstrakelsey.
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