What do you want to be protected from? Mice. Seriously. Once you have gone home to find one dancing and prancing about in every room, running back and forth across your curtains and had one run up your leg in one horrific night,you don't want to ever repeat the experience. It was the only thing that ever sent me running home to mommy & daddy. Even though I have learned to control the mouse situation myself, I would love to forfeit my mouse killing duties to a nice strong guy. Forget the dragons, just slay the mice please.

What do you want provided to you? Emotional support. I don't think I ever gave this idea any thought as something I'm looking for in a guy into coming reading these boards. I mean, yes, having a sugar daddy to put me through school so I could have quit my job & gone full-time may have been nice, but I managed fine on my own. I'm used to providing for myself. But I don't think I can deal with work without some feed back and comfort on some days.

I'm not sure whether I would file this under providing emotional support or being my protector, but a recent problem at work made me think about what I expect from men. I had a male coworker inform me at closing that a library patron was servicing himself at one of the public computers while viewing porn (and made some lovely hand gestures to illustrate his point). When I pointed out this was indecent exposure in a public place and he should call the campus police he said he was "f-in out of here" and left me to deal with the situation. I was really shocked that he left me with the responsibility of dealing with an embarrassing situation and making sure that this little prevert had exited the building. Everything about my coworker's actions in the past had convinced me that he was a bully, and now I realized he was a coward, too. I realized that of all the men I have known, even guys who were physically small and not very bold, none would have left me alone to deal with that. So... I don't know whether that constitutes bravery or just having character. But that is what I want in a guy when I'm in an uncomfortable or upsetting situation. Someone who makes me feel like they are there for me.

How do you want to be nurtured?
Spending time with me and listening, being interested in my physical, spiritual and emotional wellbeing. And as I tend to feel sorry for myself when I have the common cold, I really like it when someone else goes to the grocery store and makes me something warm and comforting to eat, etc.

What work makes a home for you?
Well, both my grandmothers were homemakers and perfectionists, but one did it while working and one did not. The first one also managed to make her place feel homey and welcoming and there always seemed to be something to eat even for a drop in visitor. The second makes her place feel like a showplace where I've never been comfortable. I guess I just think a place should be tidy enough that people feel comfortable there and can relax there. The people in life should be more important that the things and house. I want to be able to replicate that kind of atmosphere in my home, but it always seemed to be a group effort at my homey grandmother's house, not just the work of one-slave-like woman.