Originally published April 27, 2006:

I am a 19-year-old gay man in a relationship with a handsome, nice guy. Here's the problem: He has this obsession with, when we are getting close, talking and acting like a child—and I mean literally like a 5-year-old. I'm not sure he even knows he does it. I haven't brought it up, as it's pretty weird. I'm not into it, though, and it's hurting our relationship. What can I do?

Wants An Adult

My response after the jump...

Your boyfriend knows exactly what he's doing, WAA—he's been testing you. The first time he acted like a 5-year-old, you didn't say anything because it was pretty weird. And he's so handsome and nice. And you didn't want to make him feel bad. And you hoped it wouldn't happen again. But then he did it again. And you still didn't say anything. And then he did it again. And again and again and again. And you never objected. And the 5-year-old act is hurting your relationship, but your boyfriend doesn't know that. Instead he's thinking, hey, I hit the fucking jackpot—I met a guy who enjoys this 5-year-old role-play stuff just as much as I do.

If it's a deal breaker for you, WAA, you're going to have to say so. Try this: "I'm into you, I dig you, but the little-kid routine is a turnoff. Can you drop it?" Once he knows how you really feel, he gets to decide if being with you is worth the sacrifice.