If you’re already dating that, that means they like you! You don’t need to be a “perfect” guy to be a good boyfriend. There’s no such thing as perfection!
For example, you might enjoy watching sports, while they don’t. You can enjoy your favorite game with friends while they do something else. Similarly, they might like going to live concerts, while you find them too noisy. They could enjoy regular concert outings with friends instead of with you.
For example, it’s okay to cry when you’re upset or talk to them about how stressed you are.
For example, it’s okay to bring them flowers before a date, but don’t bring them flowers every day. Similarly, it’s normal to show off a trophy you won, but don’t try to win a trophy just to impress them.
You don’t have to look like a teenage pop star to show your partner that you care about how you look when you’re around them. Just shower regularly, shave if that’s what you normally do, and wear flattering, well-fitting, and unwrinkled clothes. If you look sloppy around them, they’ll think they’re not important to you. It’s important to look nice, especially before you pick them up on a date. Show them that they’re worth the effort it takes to look nice.
You should also nod along while they’re talking to you to show you’re listening.
If their feelings trigger something in you, save it for an appropriate time. Wait for a good time to share your feelings, such as after they’re calmed down.
Remember that it’s better to be happy than right. If you think your partner really wants something while you just kind of want it, let them get their way. Be mature. If you and your partner are arguing about something, sit down and make a list of all the pros and cons of each decision. That can help you both get perspective on the situation. Make sure that both people are compromising. It’s not a real compromise if you always end up getting your way, or if your partner always ends up getting what they want. Learn to take turns. Maybe you can pick the dinner place tonight, but they can pick the movie tomorrow.
Whenever you find yourself raising your voice or even shouting, just calm down and take a few deep breaths. You won’t resolve anything if you’re feeling emotional or heated. If you think your partner is starting a lot of fights, communicate about why this is happening and how it can be changed. If you’re kind of annoyed about something minor and have the urge to pick a fight, ask yourself if it’s really worth it. Don’t let your anger build up – if you’re really mad about something, it’s better to communicate about it than to avoid the topic and wait for weeks until so much anger has built up that you feel like fighting.
If they’re clearly upset about something, you can ask them to open up about why. If they don’t want to talk about it, don’t push it or keep asking about it, or they’ll feel much worse. If they’re sad, give them some love and affection. Ask if they want to stay in instead of going out, or how they feel like dealing with their mood. They may want to be left alone, or they may just want to snuggle with you. Don’t say, “I can tell you’re in a bad mood. " Instead, say, “Is something wrong? I’m worried that you’re upset. Talk to me. " If you accuse them of being in a bad mood, they may get annoyed and defensive.
If they need a ride somewhere, offer to give them one if you can drive. If they need help, they may not admit it right away, so be attentive and see if there’s anything you can do. Make sure there’s a give-and-take balance. If you do favors for them, they should help you out, too. If it’s a one-way street, then they may be taking advantage of you.
If you know they have a big test coming up, then you should either give them space to study or help them if you can. If they’re really passionate about soccer, tennis, or some other school sport, then you should cheer them on the sidelines during their big games. If they’re going through some trouble at home, make sure to be extra attentive and to ask if there’s anything you can do. And if they don’t want to talk about it, they don’t want to talk about it. Ask about their interests. If you know they’re passionate about painting or playing the violin, support them by letting them talk about these interests and sharing how much they mean to them.
Be friendly to their friends. Say hi, even if your partner isn’t around, and ask them how they’re doing. You can even talk to them about their interests and get to know them a bit. [10] X Research source Don’t ignore them. If you approach your partner when they’re with a group of friends, make sure to greet them when you do. Don’t tell your partner that you don’t like their friends. Even if they’re a little annoying, they mean a lot to them, and if you admit this, you’ll be making a rift in your relationship.
If you two are hanging out with your friends, you should sit next to them and include them in the conversation. Don’t leave them hanging. Help your friends get to know them. If your friends are shy or awkward around your partner, it’ll be hard to have a good time. Bring up some common interests for your friends and your partner to talk about.
You should compliment them even more if they get a new haircut or wear a new outfit. You can tell them they looks attractive whenever you want to – it doesn’t have to be only when they’re all dressed up. If they look cute in a tank top and a pair of casual shorts, let them know. You don’t have to overdo it – just make sure to compliment them at least once every time you see them. You don’t only have to compliment their looks – you can compliment an aspect of their personality, like their amazing sense of humor, or you can tell them that they’re an amazing gymnast or that they’re great at French.
Learn to cuddle. Spend some time hugging them, stroking their hair, or showering them with kisses. Put your arms around their waist! People love this, they feel protected and safe in your arms. Only be as affectionate as they want you to be. Don’t make them feel like they’re getting groped in public or like they don’t have room to breathe. Take it easy on the PDAs (Public Displays of Affection). You’ll find that often, the couples that are the most comfortable with each other don’t need to hold hands 24/7 or to make out in public. You can show them affection in public, but only as much as makes them comfortable.
You can do this by literally asking them. You can also try something new out whenever it seems natural, whether during a kiss or something out of the blue. But just be careful to read both their verbal reactions and their physical cues clearly, and stop if they’re not comfortable. Don’t rush them! Let them work at their own pace. If they say they don’t want to, don’t keep asking, or you could jeopardize how safe they feel with you.
It’s not the actual gift that counts – it’s the gesture. A gift shows that you’ve taken the time to think about them.
It’s not the actual gift that counts – it’s the gesture. A gift shows that you’ve taken the time to think about them.
Don’t leave the notes if it feels forced. But if you really want to show your affection this way, they’ll love it. You can also just text them randomly, saying things like “I love you” or “Thinking of you”. This feels a little less personal than leaving notes, but it is better than nothing, especially if you’re apart for a period of time and can’t leave them notes.
You can even find a new TV show that you’re both addicted to. It doesn’t matter what you do – what matters is that you’re building more interests together, which will give you more to look forward to and to talk about throughout the course of your relationship.
Be spontaneous. Pick them up after school and drive them to a park for an impromptu picnic. [15] X Research source Don’t do the same thing every weekend. Make sure you try at least one new thing together every time you go out, even if it means seeing the same movie in a different theater. Don’t forget about your looks. You should continue to look nice, even if you’ve been together for a while. If you slack off in this department, they may think you don’t care anymore.
Continue to make time for your guy friends. Don’t ditch them completely to hang out with your partner. Don’t let your partner ditch their friends to hang out with you all the time, either. Don’t stop pursuing your interests just because of your partner. Continue to practice with your band, even if they don’t like the music. If you and your partner are always together, you won’t have any room to step back and gain some perspective. Being apart helps you value what you have, and to think about anything that may not be working.
Don’t ever pressure your partner to do more than they want to do. They may feel forced to give in to you, and they will regret it later. If you keep trying to move too fast, your partner may think that you’re not in the relationship for the right reasons. Let your partner make the calls sometimes. Wait for them to tell you what they want instead of making it clear that you want more. You should avoid moving too fast not only in the bedroom, but in general. Don’t start talking about college or your potential futures together until you’ve been together for a long time and feel truly serious about each other.
Take care when you text other friends. Partners can get very jealous if they see you texting someone else. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t text others. If you are going to text another person, just make it clear that you are taken and do not flirt with them. If your partner catches you texting someone in a more than friendly way, they’ll drop you faster than hot coal, unless they love you.
Let them know you care. Sometimes they will want to be treated like the only person who matters, show them you care about them by telling them so. Listen to their ideas and opinions, if you disagree with them no need to start an argument, sharing ideologies can be fun. Do not talk about their faults. Never ever talk about their faults or flaws, your opinion is very important to them so by saying mean things you could really damage their self-esteem. Recognize their good qualities and make sure they know about them. However, if your partner is. . . let’s say, really bossy and controlling, this may be something you need to point out.
