Women like to give guys books as gifts.  And, I always cringe when I get one.

When ever I get a book, this means that I have to read it whether I want to or not.  If she is giving you a book, it usually means that she has read the book and really liked it.  And, at some point in time, she will ask you if you liked the book and insist on discussing certain aspects of the book with you.  So, like it or not, you must read the book.

I often receive picture frames as gifts from the women that I am dating.  The idea is that we will find a special moment at a special event and have someone take a picture of the two of us together.  Then, we will each get a copy of the photo and prominently display it in our picture frame for all the world to see.

Unfortunately, that special moment at that special place never happens.  And, instead, they are usually gone within the next few weeks.  It is as if they want me to have a photo of them so that I remember the good times that we had together right before they dump me.  It apparently brings them a sense of closure to the relationship.  But, that photo never gets taken and I end up dumping the empty frame.

A couple of the women that I have dated have asked for a date break.  They claim that they need some time off from the relationship because of work schedules, job stress, health issues, family issues….. you fill in the blank.

Generally speaking, this means that the relationship is finished and that they are hoping that you will just go away.  Or, if that doesn’t work, they will use the break to compose a “Dear John” letter explaining all of you deficiencies.  Either way, if they need a break from you, it usually means that you are no longer important to them.

And while they always leave that element of hope by saying that it will only be for a few days, weeks, months, in the end, they aren’t coming back.  So, get ready to move on.

Meeting the parents for the first time can always be a challenge.  You always want to make a good first impression.  But, in the end, a lot of it depends on the relationship that exists between her and her parents.

Most of the women that I have dated have been intimidated by their mother.  In some cases, this intimidation results in the daughter being submission to mom.   While in other cases, the daughter resents her mother.

In the first situation, it is important to be accepted by mom because the daughter will succumb to moms’ wishes.  And, with the second, being liked by mom can be detrimental because you become a pawn in the mother/daughter power struggle.

So, understanding the mother/daughter relationship is important if you hope to blend in with the family.

While it might seem natural to volunteer for work around her house, be careful.  Yes, you can install that new sink for her in only a couple of hours but do you want to be liable for maintaining it for the next 10 years?

This might seem a little extreme but it does happen.  Since you installed it, any subsequent problems must be your fault.

Be very careful and be sure that you know what you are getting into.

Being asked to go shopping for a new car might seem innocent enough but be careful.  If the new car has problems, you might be held accountable even if you did not make the selection.  It is called “guilt by association” and it is a lose/lose situation.

And, while you may not be a mechanic, you should have known that the engine was bad.  And, if you did know that the engine was bad and told her so, you should have stopped her from buying the car.

As I said, this is a lose/lose situation.  Avoid it if you can.

Money matters between couples are always very touchy.  Or more to the point, when should you offer to become financially involved with the person you are dating?  If her car breaks down, should you offer to pay for the repairs or let her deal with it?  If her lawn mower dies should you offer to buy her a new one?

I personally think it is unreasonable for you to be financially committed to anyone to whom you are not legally committed.  But, that is up to each individual.

I once dated a woman who told me that she would make our relationship “well worth my while”.  Of course, this was our first date and I guess she wanted me to know that she was good in bed.  And while it was nice of her to tell me that information, I decided to pass.

At this stage in life, the dating pool has its share of divorced people.  And, chances are good that some of these divorces were the result of infidelity.   And with any infidelity, you always have to wonder the cause.

Were their needs not being met at home?  Did it just happen by circumstances?   Were they looking for an upgrade?

Of the above, unmet needs is probably the biggest concern.  If the needs of the last marriage were not met, will they be met this time around?  That is a tough question to answer.

Trying to make a favorable impression on your own grand kids can be difficult at best.  You can elicit favorable reviews with fun gifts and candy.

But, making a favorable impression on her grand kids can be next to impossible.  All you can do is give it your best shot and hope for the best.  Besides, there is no guarantee that your “significant other” will be around in another 6 months.