The Short List

When I read the wild stories about husbands, ex-husbands/partners in the blogs and on the bitchin’ boards, sometimes I laugh, and other times, I feel sad. It also makes me realize that I now have no tolerance for poor behavior from men. After the crap I put up with during my first marriage, there is no WAY I am going to live with that level of misery ever again!

While I was going through my divorce, I created my own short list of things I would never put up with again.

I will not tolerate (in no particular order):

1. Neglect. It is fine for my partner to have friends and outside interests, but our relationship comes first. This means if you’re out with your pals more than once a week you’re not the guy for me.

2. Selfishness. If money is tight, you don’t immediately decide to go out and spend our last dime on a fancy dinner for yourself. If I’m sick, you don’t go out to dinner with your pals until 2 a.m. during a snowstorm and make me shovel by myself.

3. Lack of ability to take responsibility for your actions. Sure, we all make mistakes. But if you blame everyone else for your poor lot in life (massive credit card debt, weight issues, messy house, financial problems) I have no interest in a relationship with you.

4. Racism, Sexism, or Homophobia. Please look elsewhere.

5. Chronic financial problems. We’ve all made financial mistakes; myself included. But I am not about to be taken for a ride again trying to clean up someone else’s financial mistakes.

6. Mother issues. If you’re a complete mamma’s boy that can not say no to your mother regardless of the request, I’ll politely decline. I’m all for a man that treats his mother well, but your mother shouldn’t be the center of your universe.