I want to preface this by apologizing if any of this is triggering. I'm just hoping that perhaps some other male Littles may read this and know that they're not alone.

Big voice: My girlfriend and I first met years ago. There is an age disparity, and that was a big reason I'm attracted to her: I grew up surrounded by adults and that rubbed off on me.

Over the past few years, we've gradually been developing a dynamic where she's the caretaker and I'm younger. (she's called me her Boygenius for a long time)

And just in the last month, we've really accepted that this is where our relationship has naturally been heading, and that it really fulfills alot of our mutual needs. I always felt that giving control to her was something she would see as a burden. And she felt that if she did exercise that control, I would feel stifled.

As a male from the Midwest, it's hard to accept yourself when you finally realize and accept that your emotional and sexual norms are outside what is proscribed by society. I worked a job in a machine shop until my epilepsy got too bad. And honestly, the social environment in those places is not friendly towards folks like us, even though there are many similarities: for example, one thing that actively provided comfort for me in both the military and my 50 hour-a-week job was the regimented way life is spent. Without knowing it, I was actively seeking a life choice that would trust my safety and decision making to accepted authority figures.

My girlfriend naturally gravitated towards the caretaker role: actively making meal plans, assuring I keep up on hygiene, and making an itinerary for both the day, week, and (sometimes) months.

When we found out about the caregiver/little lifestyle, it was like a light suddenly came on for both of us: so many things we naturally did (and sometimes felt ashamed of) were finally given explanations and it was freeing.

My girlfriend is now officially my mommy, and I'm her boygenius, and we couldn't be happier. Sometimes it's big showy things: she changes my diaper when I mess myself (we both refer to it as "making a gift"), and has a tether so we're always together when we're out. But other times it's the little things that mean alot: when she makes cookies and she lets me help, so I feel like I'm her little man and she knows she's appreciated.

I'm sorry to go on and on, but before I sign off I want to reach out to those other male littles and let them know that they're not alone. There ARE others, and it's alright. I'm a redneck machinist from the Midwest, and this is the lifestyle that speaks to my heart, and my mommy's as well.

You're not alone: there's others out there with the same needs and wants that you have. And this community is actively trying to be welcoming.

But to the daddies, mommies, and girl littles...sometimes us boy littles are really trying hard to be comfortable with our needs. And if we're ever testy or defensive or guarded, please know that it's nothing you've done: for some of us, it's a long road.