My New Best Friend And The Broken Washer And Dryer

🧺 “I’m Not Your Mom, and I’m Not Your Maintenance Man.”Yeah, I’m talking about this again. Because honestly, the universe keeps dropping the evidence right in front of me.I went away for a few days to relax, pack light, and get some space. Instead, a hotel laundry room reminded me exactly why I got divorced.There is a very specific percentage of the population—let’s just call it what it is: men—who simply refuse to address issues, fix things, or act competent.Here is the breakdown of my vacation laundry saga:* Man #1 & Man #2: Both made casual comments to me like, “Yeah, that machine doesn’t work,” or “That dryer never shuts off (a literal fire hazard).”* Man #3: Presumably the one who jammed the quarter tray in the first place and just walked away.The bar was so low. None of these men actually had to fix the machines themselves. All they had to do was walk their behinds to the front desk and report it. But instead? They chose to ignore the problem and wait for someone else—historically, a woman—to deal with it.🚫 The “Helpful” Competence CapI know this type of person inside and out. The moment a minor inconvenience happens, they suddenly lose all capacity to know what to do. It’s weaponized incompetence at its finest, and I spent a whole marriage dealing with it.Yes, I went to the front desk, talked to my new best friend and got the issues resolved, because I was on vacation and needed clean clothes! But let me be crystal clear: I will handle it for myself, but I am never doing it again in a romantic relationship.I am looking for a partner, not a son. If you see a problem, step up and handle it. It really is that simple.🎧 The latest episode of Tracy Talks is live. We are diving deep into why women are completely exhausted by this dynamic, and why the “good guys” need to start holding their peers to a higher standard.👉 Listen now on iTunes, Spotify, Substack, and YouTube. Connect with me at @MoreTracyTalks and tell me: Have you ever had to play hotel manager just to get things done? Get full access to Tracy Talks at tracytalks.substack.com/subscribe