Send Help: I’m Dating a Man-Baby
LIFESTYLE
From planning dates to finding his socks—modern dating feels like babysitting with a kiss.
New Delhi: In today’s world of dating, many women are beginning to feel like they’re not in relationships, but in full-time adult supervision roles. The popular question going around is: “Is he my boyfriend… or my second job?”
Whether it’s reminding him to buy shampoo (that isn’t 5-in-1 car wash quality) or teaching him how to fold a towel the right way, women are burnt out—not from love, but from *mankeeping.
What is “Mankeeping”?
“Mankeeping” refers to the emotional, mental, and practical labour women often end up doing in relationships—basically managing the boyfriend’s life like a personal assistant, therapist, and life coach rolled into one.
And women are done.
Funny Comments Women Are Making:
Here’s what some women had to say when asked if they ever felt like they were raising their partner:
- “I asked him to bring onions. He brought bananas. I cried. He ate one.”
- “He said he couldn’t cook rice because ‘the cooker was looking at him weird’. I wish I was joking.”
- “I told him to clean the bathroom. He sprayed perfume and said, ‘Now it’s clean.’”
- “He didn’t know pillow covers come off. He thought we buy new pillows when they get dirty.”
- “He told me he was ’emotionally available’ but couldn’t talk for three days after I asked, ‘How was your day?’”
- “His idea of planning a date was asking me what I wanted to plan. I planned a break.”
- “He called me crying because he couldn’t find his charger. It was in his hand.”
- “He said he couldn’t do laundry because ‘the clothes weren’t talking to him’. I’m dating a Disney character, apparently.”
Emotional Labour, Not Just Physical Chores
This isn’t only about dishes and laundry. Women are also doing the heavy lifting in emotional communication, future planning, remembering anniversaries (his mom’s included), and calming him down after his favourite football team loses.
One woman summarized it perfectly:
“I didn’t sign up to raise a man with WiFi.”
What Women Really Want: A Grown-Up Partner
Women don’t expect perfection. They just want a partner who can carry his own weight—mentally, emotionally, and maybe remember to floss once in a while.
Another woman said, “Just once, I want to come home and see the dishes done without me having to drop hints like I’m on a scavenger hunt.”
The Bottom Line
In 2025, women are setting boundaries. They’re asking men to be more than just present—they’re asking them to be capable.
So if you’re a man wondering why she’s distant or no longer laughing at your memes, ask yourself: When was the last time you scheduled your own dentist appointment or picked up a mop voluntarily?
Because these days, being mature is hotter than abs. And knowing how to clean a toilet? That’s husband material.
Final Thought:
Being a boyfriend isn’t about flowers once a year. It’s about doing the basics—on your own—without her having to send reminders like she’s managing a toddler with a beard.
Grow up. Glow up. Show up.
That’s it. That’s the love language.
Also read: “Pothole Protest: A Father’s Last Resort”