When I was a teenager, I had this stringent list of what my ideal man should be: handsome, well-off, caring, understanding, God-fearing, intelligent - " I could have gone on and on then about what qualities my partner should have. However, as I grew older, I realized that I could never really find a real person who met all these sterling qualities.
Building a my-ideal-man-list is much like this e-mail that I received which made me laugh out loud, it's entitled "My Ideal Man Checklist". At age 22, the checklist goes much like the list that I had above. Another revised list is made at ages 32, 42, 52, 62 and by the age of 72 there are only a couple of items on the list: that the man should be breathing and not miss the toilet. Well, here's the full version for you to enjoy: “My Ideal Man Checklist” What I Want in a Man, Original List (age 22):
1. Handsome
2. Charming
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3. Financially Successful
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He should be financially stable enough to support not only himself but also contribute meaningfully to our shared goals and adventures. It’s not about luxury or lavish lifestyles; rather, it’s about being responsible and secure in our financial foundation. Having a steady income, a budget, and savings for the future demonstrates reliability and maturity. Mutual respect for each other’s financial habits and open communication are key. We don’t need to be wealthy, but we should be smart and conscious about our expenditures. Ultimately, a financially responsible partner is a cornerstone for a steady and fulfilling life together.
4. A Caring Listener
5. Witty
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6. In Good Shape
7. Dresses with Style
8. Appreciates Finer Things
9. Full of Thoughtful Surprises
10. An Imaginative, Romantic Lover
What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 32):
1. Nice Looking (prefer Hair on His Head)
2. Opens Car Doors, Holds Chairs
3. Has Enough Money for a Nice Dinner
4. Listens More than Talks
5. Laughs at My Jokes
6. Carries Bags of Groceries with Ease
7. Owns at Least One Tie
8. Appreciates a Good Home-cooked Meal
9. Remembers Birthdays and Anniversaries
10. Seeks Romance at Least Once a Week
What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 42):
1. Not Too Ugly (bald Head OK)
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Sure, he may not have a lush mane, but there's something undeniably attractive about a man who owns his baldness with confidence. He carries himself with a certain je ne sais quoi that renders hair an afterthought. His scalp, a smooth canvas, highlights his features and adds a touch of daring to his overall look. In his embrace, you're reminded that true beauty is found in the strength of character and the way he makes you feel—not in the abundance of follicles on one's head.
2. Doesn’t Drive off until I’m in the Car
3. Works Steady — Splurges on Dinner out Occasionally
6. Is in Good Enough Shape to Rearrange the Furniture
7. Wears a Shirt That Covers His Stomach
8. Knows Not to Buy Champagne with Screw-top Lids
9. Remembers to Put the Toilet Seat down
10. Shaves Most Weekends
What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 52):
1. Keeps Hair in Nose and Ears Trimmed
2. Doesn’t Belch or Scratch in Public
3. Doesn’t Borrow Money Too Often
4. Doesn’t Nod off to Sleep when I’m Venting
5. Doesn’t Re-tell the Same Joke Too Many Times
6. Is in Good Enough Shape to Get off Couch on Weekends
7. Usually Wears Matching Socks and Fresh Underwear
8. Appreciates a Good TV Dinner
9. Remembers My Name on Occasion
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One important quality that I look for in my ideal man is the ability to remember my name. This may seem like a small detail, but it speaks volumes about a person's level of interest and attentiveness. When a man remembers my name, it shows that he values our interactions and takes the time to make a personal connection. It also indicates that he is a good listener and pays attention to details. In addition, remembering my name can make me feel special and important, which is a crucial aspect of any healthy relationship. Overall, this simple action can make a big impact on how I perceive a potential partner.
10. Shaves Some Weekends
What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 62):
1. Doesn’t Scare Small Children
2. Remembers Where Bathroom is
3. Doesn’t Require Much Money for Upkeep
4. Only Snores Lightly when Asleep
5. Remembers Why He’s Laughing
6. Is in Good Enough Shape to Stand up by Himself
7. Usually Wears Clothes
8. Likes Soft Foods
9. Remembers Where He Left His Teeth
10. Remembers That It’s the Weekend
What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 72):
1. Breathing
2. Doesn’t Miss the Toilet!
As funny as the e-mail was, it is true" as you grow more mature, your original list of 'requirements' for an ideal man are revised. Now, all I am looking for in an ideal man is one who can be both a best friend and a partner in life, and someone who will love me as unconditionally as I love him. And what about you? What's your perfect guy checklist?
I've RT this post on Twitter.....I can't stop laughing ....:)) it really made me feel good. :)
I find this opposite of what I've heard, seen, and er, made myself. At 18 he just had to be cute & like the same music. Now my ideal is much more refined. With age, standards can change, but that doesn't mean lowering them. You tend to just focus on different qualities, less shallow ones often. My 76 yr old gma says she'd be much pickier now. She has never remarried after my gpa's death 10+ years ago because she says no man meets her list, haha. She says has to be handsome, a great dancer, very spiritual and financially well-off. Doesn't sound low to me!
haha nice one :) maybe its best to stick with one forever!
Hi Ice, I think this is the complete list that the writer's referring to. It is pretty funny. :) "My Ideal Man Checklist" What I Want in a Man, Original List (age 22): 1. Handsome 2. Charming 3. Financially successful 4. A caring listener 5. Witty 6. In good shape 7. Dresses with style 8. Appreciates finer things 9. Full of thoughtful surprises 10. An imaginative, romantic lover. What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 32): 1. Nice looking (prefer hair on his head) 2. Opens car doors, holds chairs 3. Has enough money for a nice dinner 4. Listens more than talks 5. Laughs at my jokes 6. Carries bags of groceries with ease 7. Owns at least one tie 8. Appreciates a good home-cooked meal 9. Remembers birthdays and anniversaries 10. Seeks romance at least once a week. What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 42): 1. Not too ugly (bald head OK) 2. Doesn't drive off until I'm in the car 3. Works steady -- splurges on dinner out occasionally 4. Nods head when I'm talking 5. Usually remembers punch lines of jokes 6. Is in good enough shape to rearrange the furniture 7. Wears a shirt that covers his stomach 8. Knows not to buy champagne with screw-top lids 9. Remembers to put the toilet seat down 10. Shaves most weekends. What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 52): 1. Keeps hair in nose and ears trimmed 2. Doesn't belch or scratch in public 3. Doesn't borrow money too often 4. Doesn't nod off to sleep when I'm venting 5. Doesn't re-tell the same joke too many times 6. Is in good enough shape to get off couch on weekends 7. Usually wears matching socks and fresh underwear 8. Appreciates a good TV dinner 9. Remembers my name on occasion 10. Shaves some weekends. What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 62): 1. Doesn't scare small children 2. Remembers where bathroom is 3. Doesn't require much money for upkeep 4. Only snores lightly when asleep 5. Remembers why he's laughing 6. Is in good enough shape to stand up by himself 7. Usually wears clothes 8. Likes soft foods 9. Remembers where he left his teeth 10. Remembers that it's the weekend. What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 72): 1.Breathing 2. Doesn't miss the toilet!
I don't know my ideal man anymore. Last time I checked, I used to be in love with my ideal guy. The next thing I knew, I was just in love with the idea of him. It's tragic and I'm like a recovering addict.
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Tavia:I've RT this post on Twitter.....I can't stop laughing ....:)) it really made me feel good. :)
karen_o:I find this opposite of what I've heard, seen, and er, made myself. At 18 he just had to be cute & like the same music. Now my ideal is much more refined. With age, standards can change, but that doesn't mean lowering them. You tend to just focus on different qualities, less shallow ones often. My 76 yr old gma says she'd be much pickier now. She has never remarried after my gpa's death 10+ years ago because she says no man meets her list, haha. She says has to be handsome, a great dancer, very spiritual and financially well-off. Doesn't sound low to me!
Anonymus:haha nice one :) maybe its best to stick with one forever!
Jayhawk's:Hi Ice, I think this is the complete list that the writer's referring to. It is pretty funny. :) "My Ideal Man Checklist" What I Want in a Man, Original List (age 22): 1. Handsome 2. Charming 3. Financially successful 4. A caring listener 5. Witty 6. In good shape 7. Dresses with style 8. Appreciates finer things 9. Full of thoughtful surprises 10. An imaginative, romantic lover. What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 32): 1. Nice looking (prefer hair on his head) 2. Opens car doors, holds chairs 3. Has enough money for a nice dinner 4. Listens more than talks 5. Laughs at my jokes 6. Carries bags of groceries with ease 7. Owns at least one tie 8. Appreciates a good home-cooked meal 9. Remembers birthdays and anniversaries 10. Seeks romance at least once a week. What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 42): 1. Not too ugly (bald head OK) 2. Doesn't drive off until I'm in the car 3. Works steady -- splurges on dinner out occasionally 4. Nods head when I'm talking 5. Usually remembers punch lines of jokes 6. Is in good enough shape to rearrange the furniture 7. Wears a shirt that covers his stomach 8. Knows not to buy champagne with screw-top lids 9. Remembers to put the toilet seat down 10. Shaves most weekends. What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 52): 1. Keeps hair in nose and ears trimmed 2. Doesn't belch or scratch in public 3. Doesn't borrow money too often 4. Doesn't nod off to sleep when I'm venting 5. Doesn't re-tell the same joke too many times 6. Is in good enough shape to get off couch on weekends 7. Usually wears matching socks and fresh underwear 8. Appreciates a good TV dinner 9. Remembers my name on occasion 10. Shaves some weekends. What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 62): 1. Doesn't scare small children 2. Remembers where bathroom is 3. Doesn't require much money for upkeep 4. Only snores lightly when asleep 5. Remembers why he's laughing 6. Is in good enough shape to stand up by himself 7. Usually wears clothes 8. Likes soft foods 9. Remembers where he left his teeth 10. Remembers that it's the weekend. What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 72): 1.Breathing 2. Doesn't miss the toilet!
Christine:I don't know my ideal man anymore. Last time I checked, I used to be in love with my ideal guy. The next thing I knew, I was just in love with the idea of him. It's tragic and I'm like a recovering addict.
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