"I Melted And Almost Cried": Men Are Sharing Things Women Do That Make Them Feel Loved And Valued, And This Is Something That We Should Be Talking About More
"It's not super romantic at the moment but it's these really tiny things that add up for me and have me glancing over at my girlfriend randomly falling in love all over again."
I recently found this Reddit thread where u/optimist_cultasked men what romantic things they wish women did more of and it was honestly quite eye-opening. It's always interesting to hear different perspectives on the topic of dating so this thread was fascinating to me. Here is what some men had to say.
1."We live in a busy world. If she were to stop in the middle of what she was doing and come over to cuddle and tell me a joke or a compliment — my happiness meter would explode and my day would be one to remember."
2."I feel that even with the most gender-equal person there is an expectation of men being initiators. At least for me, a woman just initiating anything romantic (sexual or nonsexual) is a huge turn-on. People want to feel wanted. I don't want to be mothered 24/7 but it's also nice to feel vulnerable and cared for as much as you'd like to protect your partner too."
3."Last Halloween at a party, a girl sitting beside me put her hand on my chest while cuddling against me. After not having any intimacy for two years, I melted and almost cried. I still think about it frequently, months later."
6."I received flowers for Valentine’s Day and I cannot express the joy I felt receiving them."
7."My late wife LOVED doing playful things to aggravate me but in a silly playful way. Her favorite and the one I always fell for was she'd want a little kiss and the moment my lips touched hers she'd stick her tongue out so it went between my lips. It used to irritate the shit out of me but she was being playful. I really miss that stuff now. If I was to date again I'd want someone that does playful stuff like this."
9."Small spontaneous stuff like little notes, random gifts even if it's my favorite chocolate bar, or drink. It's not super romantic at the moment but it's these really tiny things that add up for me and have me glancing over at my girlfriend randomly falling in love all over again."
10."One time my girlfriend at the time, now wife, noticed I was having a shitty week (well, more like shitty several months) at work, and she surprised me after a shift with some wine, a movie I was interested in, and some of my favorite snacks and treats. She was surprised because I started to cry a little. I explained that it made me feel really happy and noticed. Men get used to feeling like literally nobody gives a crap about how they’re feeling or doing. It made a big impression on me."
12."Clear and direct communication. I'm neurodiverse so social cues aren't my strong suit and when my partner wants something from me, they will just ask. Whether that's an affirmation, a cuddle, or a kiss. Not the most romantic but it makes me feel safe and valued. They also pick flowers for me when I'm feeling down so that's pretty romantic and I like that and hope other folks get to experience it."
13."Articulate what's on your mind. It helps strengthen bonds between us with no assumptions and self-guessing."
14."Listen, if you just hug me out of nowhere every so often, I will love you forever. That and try any new stuff I cook for the first time."
15."Taking interest in your hobbies. I love watching Supercross, motocross, MotoGP, football games, etc. I don’t expect someone who isn’t as passionate about that stuff as me to want to watch every race or game and know much about that stuff. But something as simple as 'I would love for YOU to take me to a race or game' showcasing that they want you to be the man to introduce them to maybe something they know nothing about. Or better yet surprising you with some tickets to a game when you know they aren’t even a sports fan."
