10 Things Every Man Should Be Able to Do in a Successful Relationship

You see a spider! Do you squish it or jump up and down doing your best cheerleader impression? Hopefully, you know the correct answer to this hypothetical scenario but being a man means different things to different people depending upon their point of view. That said, our basis of "being a man" typically comes from the societal norms of what women want a man to be. After all, they are the ones that hold most of the control in a relationship so this article is devoted to a woman's perspective of what her man should be able to do. Warning, guys: you might not like some of this but if you can do 8 out of 10 of these, you should be in good shape with your better half.

Be a listener, not a problem solver. When your lady speaks to you, listen to what she says and the tone of her voice, her mannerisms, and any other signals available to accurately gauge her emotions. Women do not expect you to solve their problems, but they expect you to understand their plight. So keep your Home Depot Mr. Fix It persona in check and pay attention to her.

Be a provider. Sure, women today are self reliant and don't need men. However, they choose to have a man (in most cases). Societal norms are ingrained into our psyches and will obviously interfere with your relationship if your job requires the phrase "would you like fries with that" at age 35. Therefore, be a good provider for your mate and future family because a woman's nesting instincts will be completely shut down if you can't support an adequate lifestyle.

Be a handy man. I'm not suggesting you need to turn into Bob Vila, but doing simple hands on weekend warrior projects makes your lady feel that she didn't pick a momma's boy. I know its stereotypical, but sporting that tool belt might be one of your best friends when it comes to your relationship (hint: a turn on for her). Just remember to avoid the low riding jeans and the plumber's "vertical smile"!