Grandma once told me, "Men are like a gin and tonic. It's up to you to decide how much gin you like." I wasn't sure what my whimsical grandmother was trying to say until after I began my dating "career." The big revelation was every man has his faults, but it's up to me to decide which set of faults I can handle--and which I can't. In modern terms, the question is "What's your relationship deal breaker?" What would make you shout, "Whoa, Nelly!" (Tribute to Grandma there!)
I knew mine, but I was curious about what my friends thought. At a recent birthday celebration for a friend, I asked six women about their personal relationship deal breakers. Some of the answers were hilarious.
"Cheating is my bar-none deal breaker! I hate cheaters and expect him to be faithful. I would respect him more if he'd just break up with me rather than cheat." - Bridget Woods, Mobile, Ala.
"If the sex is bad, it's a deal breaker. I know there is a learning curve when you have a new partner but seriously. That is the worse part of dating. If he's gross in bed, that's a turn off." - Angela Daily, Lucedale, Miss.
"Addictions make me run the opposite way. I won't even date a guy that smokes. If he's addicted to drugs or booze, that's a deal breaker. I can't handle a rehab relationship." - Star Metzinger, Foley, Ala.
"Kissing a guy with stinky breath or bad teeth makes me want to throw up. Poor hygiene is a huge, monster turn off and a real deal breaker for me. He better take a bath, wear fresh clothes and smell nice when he picks me up. No stinky feet either." - Tina Jordan, Satsuma, Ala.
"Neediness and clinginess drives me crazy. My life didn't end when I got involved in a relationship, neither should his. I don't want to be with him every minute of the day. Please don't smother me. That's a deal breaker!" - Pita Reeves, Chunchula, Ala.
"My parents hated Jack from day one. That was the deal breaker for me. I'm such a family person that I couldn't date someone that they didn't like. As it turns out, Mom was right, he wasn't the guy I thought he was." - Leigh Ann Purifoy, Semmes, Ala.
Other women I've asked have other deal breaker thresholds like, "He hit on my friend" and "He lied about everything." I guess Grandma was right, men are like a gin and tonic!
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