Mom was right…

IN honour of Mother’s Day, and the recognition that women play an important part in shaping the futures of the younger generation, this week some women share the things about men and relationships their mothers were right about.

While the relationship between mother and daughter can be rocky, especially in the teen years, soon enough, most girls come to realise that mom was right all along.

Michelle, 38:

Things like acknowledging people by saying ‘good morning’, and being tolerant of lower level staff were important to me, but he claimed that it was modern times now, and only country people acted like that. My mom told me to always demand respect, but I didn’t listen. I told her he was just being “assertive”. She was right. He couldn’t show basic respect to people, and a few years into the relationship, I was the one he was treating like crap, because his “assertiveness” was just narcissism.

Tanisha, 45:

“If a man wants to, he will”. It’s advice that I actually took, and would never listen when a man said he was too busy to call or make plans. Effort shows interest.

Eloise, 23:

The way a man talks about his ex is a reflection of the way he will talk about you. Any man who constantly badmouths his ex is immature, not over her, and will do the same to you. After the break-up I found out that he was telling other people that I was “crazy”, the same way he used to tell me that his ex was a crazy stalker.

Judith, 33:

Don’t ignore red flags just because he’s cute. Also, jealousy is not passion, and a man being jealous or possessive isn’t indicative of his love for you. He would get upset when I spoke to any man, including my boss and co-workers, and I remembered my mom saying this kind of thing wasn’t romantic, it’s controlling.

Natalia, 35:

Chemistry fades, but a good friendship will last. Don’t date someone just for the fun times you have, as when the attraction ends, you have to have friendship to fall back on.

Anna, 26:

Whether you believe in horoscopes or not, fact is, men who are born at a certain time in the year have the same characteristics. Mom told me some of the astrological signs never to date, and I ignored it for a while. Then I realised that for the most part, there are signs that are selfish, signs that are cheaters, and signs that are narcissists, and I know now to date men who mesh well with my personality.