How to Avoid Common Boyfriend Mistakes

You can play video games anytime ... except when you're with your girlfriend! Unless you two are playing together or taking turns, keep the game system off. When your girlfriend is there, you should do things together. Even if you're trying to show her how cool your game is or how awesome you are at playing it, chances are it'll bore her to tears, and make her feel neglected. Don't let your girlfriend become a video game widow, put down the controller and do something you both enjoy.

If she wants to do something nice for you, let her! Don't hold to old fashioned ideals so stubbornly that you don't let her treat you every once in a while. Most girls these days don't like being told they can't do something, whether that something is hold a certain job or hold the door for guys. If she holds the door open for you, don't stand in the doorway and insist she go first because she's a girl, some girls find that sort of behavior annoying and a little sexist, so just go through the damn door! If you really insist on paying for a movie or meal, tell her beforehand that it's your treat.

Don't ever tell her she can't do something. If she's talking about taking drum lessons or getting an internship, support her regardless of whether you think she can do it or not. If she's really passionate about something, the last thing she wants to hear is that it might be too hard for her, or that she should leave it to someone else - and you're one of the last people she wants to hear that kind of thing from!

Take care of her. As much as she might want to take care of you, do what you can to take care of her as well. However, it's important that you don't make her feel like she needs to be taken care of, or that you're doing things because you think she wants you to. Do things for her because you want to, or at least act like you want to.

Don't make her "help out" with chores. If your mom or dad tells you to unload the dishwasher, that's your job, don't make it a group activity, because she doesn't know how you do things or where things go. You can ask her if she wants to help, and if she offers to help let her, but don't say "here, you can help me with this." If she does help out, tell her how you do things before you get started, especially if she doesn't even do that kind of thing at home.

Leave her out of stupid drama. If you and a mutual friend are having a fight, don't make her choose between you two. Try not to have a screaming match with a parent or sibling when your girlfriend is over, it's awkward for her to suddenly put her in the middle of a situation like that.