Will your partner make a good Dad?

You have amazing sex. You're physically compatible. You have great dates. Each time you're, well, intimate, you're reminded of how great you are together. But is that all there is? What if you're not alone? What if – even if you took precautions – you end up pregnant? Great sex doesn't mean the man in your life will be a great father.

Sure, nine months later there COULD perhaps be a ring, maybe some wedding bells ~ or just some more (infrequent) dates, who knows. Don’t you think it makes sense to find out which kind of man you are about to invest you and your child’s future in? The kind of man that thinks having sex is an awesome responsibility and believes they are as responsible as you are, no matter what happens?

Time to find out if you’ve got yourself a boy, a guy or a man.

BOYZ!

Boy meets girl. ~ Boy wonders what she looks like naked.

Girl says hello. ~ Boy thinks, She wants me!

Girl says, "Call me." ~ Boy suspects he could get laid.

Girl says yes to date. ~ Boy brings prophylactic.

Girl agrees to kiss. ~ Boy initiates second base.

Girl agrees to touch. ~ Boy negotiates sex.

And so on, until when Girl wants commitment. ~ Boy wants to meet another girl.

This scenario is likely an adolescent encounter, one in which neither boy nor girl has realized their own worth. But we also see this pattern repeated into adulthood by guyz and gals. Then looks something like this:

GUYZ!

Guy meets gal. ~ Guy wonders what gal looks like naked.

Gal smiles. ~ Guy knows she wants him.

Gal says "I’ll call you." ~ Guy gives her his office voicemail JIC she’s a whacker.

Gal initiates meeting for a date. ~ Guy picks Tuesday night for early drinks, JIC.

Gal imagines what their children will look like. ~ Guy hopes she doesn’t talk too much.

Gal negotiates sex. ~ Guy rehearses story for optimal quick departure.

Gal calls for days. ~ Guy thinks, I knew she was a whacker.

Gal is convinced all men are pigs. ~ Guy wonders if she wants to have sex again.

In that scenario the man/boy has not yet developed, psychologically or emotionally, much beyond puberty. This unilateral relationship phenomenon is punctuated by his awareness of this fact and his unwillingness to tell you so.

MEN!

Man meets a woman. ~ Man wonders what she wants in life.

Woman responds warmly. ~ Man wonders if she is as open and capable as she seems.

Man extends invitation. ~ Woman accepts enthusiastically.

Woman tells man what she wants in life. ~ Man notices they want the same things.

Woman sees man’s actions are consistent with words. ~ Man develops respect.

Man opens his heart. ~ Woman drops her drawers.

Woman speaks her mind. ~ Man tells the truth.

Man and woman wake up and see what they can do to enhance each other’s lives!

Wanting sex is natural; wanting to touch, to be close, to be held—natural. You become aware that we are on this planet together, on a path of growth. In the meantime, we all need be reminded, now and again, of the difference between boyz and men. Particularly when it comes to creating what we want in a relationship…with children or not!

The definitions of boyz, guyz, and men come from Chapter Six of Maryanne’s latest book, Hindsight: What You Need to Know Before You Drop Your Drawers. If you’d like some time-tested, practical tools for your Relationship Tool Belt, you can buy the book at www.maryannelive.com and learn how to turn your dream relationship into reality! To see Maryanne talking about navigating relationships in shadows that are larger than life, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOdjEMNSfSE