Since I was a little girl, I used to play pretend with my imaginary “Prince Charming”. He would be very handsome, be a great dancer, and buy me plenty of exquisite and expensive dresses, with matching jewelry of course. I guess I changed significantly, got more demanding, and picky. When I was little I didn’t have a list of “must haves”, non- negotiables”, and a “Wish for” list. Now, I find myself creating mental lists all the time, constantly adding and expanding the lists every day.

These days, if I ever do get married I want my spouse to be devoted and faithful to me. He has to be willing to compromise, and work through the rough times. I want a man who has a strong head upon his shoulders, meaning he knows what he wants to do, and when faced with choices, he’s decisive. I want someone who isn’t easily affected or influenced by people around him. I don’t want him to be a “people pleaser”. I want him to be accepting and understanding of my flaws. I want a somewhat outgoing guy who will be able to win over and cooperate with my family. I want someone who can turn the worst situations into the best ones and to be able to make me see the good in things. I want someone who will make me want to strive to be better.

I asked my mom about what she would tell me to look for in a spouse, the first thing she said was faithfulness and honesty. She also said, “Everything that your dad is not”, (giggles). J She said that she want good-looking grandchildren, so they’d have to be somewhat good-looking. She wants him to be very family oriented, and an over achiever. She also wanted him to be God-fearing. My mother knows I have a big appetite and that I’m messy sometimes, so she stated that he had to be a neat man, who could do the laundry and clean up after himself and who knew how to cook sinigang, one of my favorite Filipino dishes. Then she said that as long as he loves me, treats my children and I right, that she will accept him with open arms.