We asked men about women’s emotional maturity.
The Call
One afternoon my phone died, and I only noticed it in the evening on my way home from work. I called trembling, expecting her to be furious and accuse me of being with another woman—my ex would have done that. But she was just happy to hear my voice; she’d been worried because she didn’t know what was going on with me.
Growth
After our first small argument, she admitted I was right. She apologized, said she knew she sometimes reacted too strongly but was trying to change. I thought I misheard—never before had a woman said that. Every other girlfriend was convinced she was perfect and everyone else was always at fault. It was refreshing, and that’s when I truly fell for her.
The Phone
On our first wellness weekend together, unlike my exes who constantly took selfies, snapped food pics, and posted nonstop, she tossed her phone in her bag upon arrival and didn’t touch it for two days.
Praise Instead of Criticism
When I introduced her to my friends and their girlfriends, and later asked how she found the group, she didn’t criticize the other girls. Instead, she said something positive about each one.
The Day of Independence
When she wanted something, she didn’t throw a fit at me—she took matters into her own hands. We agreed to paint a wall at my place that evening, but I had to work late. When I got home, she had painted it all by herself. One day I suggested a weekend trip to Milan; an hour later, she messaged me that she’d bought the plane tickets.
Flirting
When my handsome, flirtatious buddy who flirts with every woman tried to hit on her, she didn’t just smile awkwardly—she firmly but kindly told him to stop.
The Wall
For me, the hardest part of relationships was always when a girlfriend showed she was upset by sulking silently and turning up her nose. I had to notice, ask what was wrong, and she’d say “nothing” offended, making me beg to find out what I’d done wrong. All women do this, I learned talking with my friends, and we guys hate it. We’re not mind readers or cavemen, so we never figure out what we messed up unless she tells us. When I started dating Vera, on about our third night out with my friends, she told me in the car that she felt I’d ignored her that evening, spending too much time with my friends and leaving her alone with the other girlfriends. I was shocked but she was right, so I apologized. She said, “No worries, babe, just please keep that in mind next time, thanks.” Then she smiled and kissed me. She didn’t sulk silently—she told me what was wrong, what to change, and forgave me. That’s when I knew Vera was the woman I’d put a ring on.
In Nature
When I asked where she wanted to go for her birthday, she didn’t say a fancy restaurant but a forest for hiking.
Gossip
At Christmas, I overheard my unbearable aunt and mean sister-in-law trying to drag her into some juicy family gossip. She just smiled and said she wanted no part of it, then left them to help my mom in the kitchen.
On Time
From the start, I noticed she was never late for any of our dates. On our third date, when I took her rowing on the river, she didn’t show up in full makeup and heels but dressed casually and sporty. Later, I realized she didn’t expect me to fix her life—she took charge herself. I adore this woman.
