How I got him to ...(MAN MANUAL)

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

... quit talking to me in a baby voice

"Although I love that my man is superaffectionate, he'd often speak to me in an annoying baby voice. I didn't mind it so much when we were alone together, but if we were out with friends or around my family, it got pretty embarrassing. At first, I tried casually bringing up that maybe he should tone it down in public--I didn't want to hurt his feelings or cause him to pull back in other ways. Unfortunately, he didn't get the hint. Finally, one evening, when we were grabbing drinks with friends, he started talking to me in the voice. I quickly grabbed my phone and pressed the record button. When we got home, I played it back to him. He was mortified and never did it again."--Ann, 34

... clean up after himself

"My boyfriend had this gross habit of littering my pad with his trash. He'd leave dirty dishes on the table, empty soda cans and magazines on the floor, and other random pieces of garbage throughout the house. When I'd ask him to pick up after himself, he'd promise to do it later but then, of course, take off without doing it. One night, after he left his usual mess for me to deal with, I gathered all the stuff into a bag. I went over to his place the next day while he was out and scattered everything around his apartment. He got the message, and now he's much more courteous about the condition he leaves my house in ... and I don't even have to badger him about it."--Chrissy, 20

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

... call me during waking hours