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Parents are all about passing little nuggets of wisdom onto their children. It's pretty much what they LIVE for, and probably the reason they had kids in the first place. And from the moment you started expressing ANY level of interest in another human being that even remotely resembled l-o-v-e, your parents were all about the relationship advice. So, in honor of dear ol' mom and dad, here are five parent-isms you've definitely heard.
1. "Look for someone who loves to laugh." 
Your parents have definitely preached about the importance of finding someone who is able to have fun...even when they're mowing the lawn. And you know why they put "fun" at the top of the list? Well, your parents have been around a lot longer than you have, and they've seen exactly how hard life can get. There are ups and downs to deal with and twists and turns to navigate, and at the end of the day, your parents just want their precious baby to be as happy as humanly possible. So date someone who likes to have a good time, because chances are, they'll help you build a happy life. 
2. "Pay attention to how they treat the waiter." 
When you're on a date, the person you're with is probably (hopefully) trying hard to impress you with their table manners, their fancy wine knowledge, their posture, even their driving skills. So listen to your parents and take note of how they treat the waiter, the ticket taker, the coat checker, someone they don't HAVE to be nice to. That's how you'll be able to figure out what he or she is like underneath all the first date jitters. Just because they're nice to you doesn't mean they're nice in general! 
3. "Look for the VIP." 
And no, not someone with access to that VIP lounge! Your parents were most likely talking about finding someone with three key core values: values, integrity, and personality. After all, whoever you end up marrying will become a part of their family too, so they want to know the person they're welcoming into their home and their lives is a standup guy or gal. 
4. "Why buy the cow when you can have the milk for free?" 
Okay, so maybe you haven't heard this EXACT phrase before, but every parent in the history of the world has told their son or daughter to find someone who thinks what's on the inside counts. Your parents want you to settle down with someone who loves you for more than just your pretty face (or any other part of your body) and isn't just in it for the you-know-what. 
5. "Find someone who will spend their money AND their time with you." 
There's no denying that deep pockets are nice, but as the Beatles once said, "money can't buy me love." Your parents were definitely on point when they encouraged you to find someone who understands the importance of balance; love isn't just about having fancy things, after all. Finding someone who knows how to budget their money is great (that means you'll definitely have a stable future), but it's also important to know when to spend. You want a partner who's interested in experiencing life with you, whether that means taking a nice vacation every once in a while, going to see your favorite band in concert when they're in town or planning a date night once a week.    
Kellee Khalil
About The Author
Kellee Khalil is the Founder & CEO of Loverly. She lives in upstate NY with her fiancé and two dogs.
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