demand.

my mum told me this when I was back in Jakarta last month.

"I, as a mum, want my children to have a great life partner.

When you guys start dating someone and introduce it to me, I want to know your partner well.

Is he/she a good person?

Will he/she treat my child nicely?

Does he/she has a good manner?

Do he/she know how to dress up according to the occasion? (note: well-groomed guy looks attractive)

*because my mum has been trying to "teach" me and my brother to dress up properly*

But, after I thought about it, do my children have a good quality or behaviour themselves that allow me to demand for such a great quality from their potential life partner?"

P.S.: those qualities demanded by my mum are just my observation during those years of my brother or me dating someone.

My mum particularly stressed on the manner.

Your manner reflects on what your parents have taught to you all these while.

If you have a good manner, it shows that you are brought up in a good environment.

good manner does not only get girls, but it gives you the heart of her mum as well ;)

I do have my own criteria of my partner.

however, I have long thought that I would not even think about those criteria I have in mind for my partner when I have fallen in love with someone.

but now, there's one criterion that can never be ignored.

love your and my family and be nice to them.

as a daughter of the family, I am really close to my dad, mum and brother and I hold them dearly.

(not to say that the son of the family is not close to their family. I know some guys who are close to theirs :])

and for me, a guy that holds dear his family is really attractive.

the one that respects their parents.

the one that is not shy to hold his mum's hands in the public (dad doesn't do this to their sons usually).

the one that can have serious conversations or jokes with his dad.

I (or every girl) wants a great partner (e.g. loyal, honest, kind, smart, etc etc).

however, do I have the quality to demand such a great partner?

if you are complaining about your partner's bad habit or behaviour currently,

take a moment to reflect yourself.

do you have the quality to demand for partner that is more than this?

can you talk nicely about the bad habit or behaviour to them?

no one likes to be confronted or talked about their behaviour or habit.

however, it's the only way you would know about yourself.

you should feel lucky to have someone to show you all of these.

the point I want to make is: if you want to have a great partner, change yourself for the better.

don't fake it, because sometimes you might show your true nature.

change is not easy.

you can't do it instantly.

but no one says it's impossible.