I'm so tired of being told that women should always conform and adapt to what MEN want in a relationship. We're told that men mature more slowly, and so we have to be patient, we have to put our needs and happiness on the backburner so they can work to meet us where we are. I'm so tired of the expectations and the double standards.

I'm tired of feeling like I'll never be good enough

I'm tired of striving for perfection just so he can do the bare minimum

I'm tired of thinking it's always my fault

I'm tired of him conflating "sensitivity" with emotional maturity

I'm tired of putting my life and happiness on hold for someone to "finally be ready"

I'm tired of constantly needing to prove I am worthy of any kind of attention or love or respect

I'm tired of the misogynist jokes his friends make

I'm tired of feeling like I came into his life too soon, before he had a chance to mature, and I have to deal with all the hard work of helping to make him a man

I'm tired of always having to prove myself to his mother, so that she csn deem me a "suitable future wife" for his son, while she neglects to teach him the first thing about sex, consent, how to be a good, mature, loving partner.

I'm tired of feeling like I've had to diminish myself, my ideas and my goals just so that he can feel adequate

I'm tired of mincing my words so I don't hurt his feelings

I'm tired of taking care of an adult

I'm tired of explaining to his little cousins who ask why we still haven't gotten married after being together for 5 years, that "sometimes even big boys need to figure out what they want in life"

I'm tired of having to absorb and suffer because of his immaturity and shortcomings

I'm tired of having given my whole heart and body to someone who took all this lightly

I'm tired of not feeling like the most loved and special girl in the world

But I'm thankful for my sisters who've built me up all my life

I'm thankful for their unconditional love

For the strength and solidarity

What a gift it is to have someone tell you "you will always be enough, you don't need to earn your place, you are valuable, intelligent, beautiful and worthy of every one of life's blessings"