If you hate the modern dating scene, then you should resort to following some old fashioned dating advice. There’s no better place to look for that than at your grandparents’ relationships. If they don’t have anything to teach you, you can learn a bit from my late grandmother. Here are a few things that she taught me about love:
- Monogamy isn’t a myth. My grandmother was only married once, and after her husband died, she never entered another relationship. Some would call it sad, but she proved that it’s possible to love one person for your entire life without feeling the need to explore your other options.
- Date someone you can have fun with. My grandmother loved to dance and drink. She married someone who shared her hobbies, which meant that she was able to relax with him, instead of in spite of him.
- Date a gentleman. In my grandmother’s era, it was impossible to shoot someone a text to ask for a booty call. After watching her from afar for weeks, her future husband hopped off of his firetruck, walked up to her porch, and asked her on a first date in person, just like a real gentleman should.
- Children won’t ruin your relationship. My grandmother had seven children and twelve grandchildren. It didn’t ruin her marriage, because she knew what she was getting herself into and was able to handle it with her husband’s help.
- Love should make you happy. If the person you love makes you miserable, then you shouldn’t be with them. My grandmother and grandfather made each other happy, which is how they managed to maintain a healthy relationship for decades.
- Love can survive anything. My grandmother had plenty of falling outs with family members, but her love for them helped them reunite. If you love someone, you’ll find a way to make things work, even when times are hard.
- Every type of love matters. My grandmother made it clear that her children and siblings were just as important to her as her husband. She taught me that romantic love isn’t superior to all of the other kinds of love out there.
- It’s your job to keep in touch with loved ones. My grandmother grew up in several different foster homes. She was the reason why her siblings actually kept in touch after they were separated, and they still thank her for it to this day.
- You can’t let your circumstances get you down. It doesn’t matter if you grew up with divorced parents or no parents at all. A broken family didn’t stop my grandmother from believing in love and ultimately finding it, so it shouldn’t stop you, either.
- Hugs and kisses are free. You never know how many more days you’re going to spend with the people you love. While they’re still around, you should show them how much you care, so that you don’t regret it in the long run.
