By Jeff Kennedy

Contributor

You want to get to know a man? Look at how he treats his mother. If he doesn’t treat his mother right, he likely won’t treat you right.

Let’s be honest, a lot guys are cordial towards women because they want something out of them. That’s why cordiality often disappears five years into marriage because they’ve already won the prize so they see no reason to keep working for it. We live in a society that is based upon rewards and punishments. And we need to push away from that mentality.

One way to combat this issue is for women to have higher standards of what a guy needs to do in order to be worthy of a committed relationship. Opening a door is a good, but it is not enough. Paying for the tab is not enough. Compliments are not enough. Small acts of kindness are good, but they’re not enough. What really matters is character. I understand that every girl has a father and I try to treat women the same way I would want my daughter to be treated.

The thing is, you might have to wait for a worthy guy. But they are out there and they are worth waiting for. Make sure the guy you’re considering dating has character before you jump into a relationship with him. He needs to treat everyone with care and respect, not just you. A good way to judge a man’s character is to see how he treats the people around him. Looks are not the most important thing in a relationship.

Here are the two most important things to consider before you get serious with someone:

Trust is something that has to be earned.  If you give it to everyone, you are bound to be hurt.  Trust takes time. If you don’t trust a guy to be honest with you, you probably shouldn’t be in a committed relationship with him.

Communication is one of the most important things in a relationship. If you can’t communicate with someone, it leaves you confused, and if you’re confused, then you’re angry. And relationships don’t work when you’re always angry with the person you’re with.

Remember these two traits because you’re worth more than a guy you can’t trust and who doesn’t communicate with you.