People like to joke that women are so hard to figure out, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. When it comes to relationships, we really just want to be treated with love and respect. The problem, of course, is that so many guys fail to meet even those basic expectations and then wonder why we get upset. You don’t need to know exactly what I want at all times, but if you want to be a good boyfriend, you need to at least meet these simple standards:
- Don’t make me wait by the phone. Don’t just say you’re going to call or text and then “forget” to follow through. If you had a good time, then don’t play games. If you really like me, then you won’t make me wait; I have better things to do with my time than hope that you’ll text me.
- Show up on time. If you say you’re going to be there, then be there. Life is unpredictable, and we all have to cancel sometimes, but remember that I have a life, too. I don’t deserve a man who can’t find time for me or expects me to waste my time on him. If you cancel on me over and over again, I’m going to kick you to the curb and find someone I can actually depend on.
- Remember the important stuff. Forgetting important dates like anniversaries or birthdays doesn’t fly with me. I refuse to be the afterthought in a man’s life. If I’m important to you, then you’ll remember the dates that are important to me.
- Care about my orgasm. It matters just as much as yours. I’m not going to fake it just to protect your ego. If you finish and I don’t, then I expect you to rally and complete what you started.
- Make me a priority. Does it honestly surprise you that I would want to feel important in your life? If I mean something to you, then proving it should be easy. I’m not perfect, but I know I’m good enough to be more than just an option for someone. I’m going to show you that you’re important to me, and I expect the same from you.
- Love me through the good and the bad. When I’m having the best day of my life, you should be the person I want to celebrate my good fortune with. When I’m having a tough time, you should be the shoulder I want to cry on. Relationships are all about being there for each other for the good, the bad, and everything in between.
- If you hurt me, just apologize. If you can’t say, “I’m sorry,” then you’re way too immature for me. Trying to avoid a fight isn’t going to solve anything. What I want is resolution. We aren’t always going to agree. Sometimes we’re going to hurt each other. All I’m asking is that you apologize when you do hurt me. If you can’t, then it’s pretty clear you don’t care about me.
- Remember that emotional affairs count as cheating. So does sexting. If you wonder if it would be wrong, then just don’t do it. It’s honestly not that hard. I don’t care if it’s emotional or physical — cheating is cheating. If you wouldn’t want me to do it, then don’t do it to me.
- Don’t make our private life public. If we have a fight, the whole world doesn’t need to know about it. That’s between you and me. The same goes for our sex life, too. You can tell all your buddies about what I do in bed if you want, but you won’t be getting me naked again from that point on. Hope your bros can keep you warm at night.
- Don’t tell me I’m being dramatic. If you REALLY want to see an overreaction, just tell me that I’m overreacting. Those words do nothing to make me calm down and only make it clear you’re trying to minimize my feelings. I’m not going to get over things in five seconds flat. Let me release my emotions without calling me nuts.
