2. HE KNOWS HOW TO COOK AND CLEAN (AT LEAST THE BASICS)
No, I’m not talking Todd English-style dishes and floors so clean you can eat off of them (though, both would be nice). Still, I’m a firm believer that all adults should know to make a decent omelette and steak, and they should want to wash the dishes within a few hours of the meal. These skills are not only about self-sufficiency (and a dislike of smells and critters), but show that one is interested in enjoying life and not too lazy to go beyond the basics.
The Laundry/Love Equation: OK, so let’s be real: anyone with long workdays and a busy social life knows that take-out numbers are called and tube socks occasionally find a home on the floor. I chalk these things up to being the side effects of a full life. That said, if the only cooking your man does is heating up his General Tso’s in a dirty microwave, it may be a sign of something more serious.
A man who knows how to take care of himself—and cares enough to make the effort to do so – will be far more inclined to step-up and take care of you than someone who just expects you to live according to his low standards or act as a full time maid-service.
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When It’s Workable: If he just doesn’t know how to clean the toilet or chop an onion, but is open to learning, feel free to move past go. “The key component is compromise. No one should be doing all of the work, you have to have a happy medium. He cooks, you clean. He makes the bed, you dust the tables. This way it’s not over-the-top. It’s about two people creating a home that feels like their own personal sanctuary,” says Estes.
When It’s Not: Estes says there are certain “red flags” that should not be overlooked. If he refuses to do his part, always puts it off until “tomorrow”, or worse, thinks that only ladies do laundry, pack up and go. “This signals that he may not see you as an equal”. That’s a much bigger problem than figuring out who is going to take out the trash.
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