The Perfect Gentleman

I have come to the conclusion, that my second favorite quality in a guy, is being a gentleman. If you ever went to a girls lock-in or a summer camp where girls were in some sort of small group together, you have made a list of qualities you want for your future husband. Allow me to read mine from the 7th grade.

Hubby Qualities
[please don't judge me, i don't use "hubby" anymore]

1. Growing Christian
   
2. Sense of humor
3. "A" graduate
4. sensitive to me and others
5. athletic
6. wants to be a dad
7. pure
8. likes to have fun
9. loves me for me
10. is good with kids
11. good looking
12. a gentleman
13. no smoking
14. no drugs
15. not an alcoholic
16. faithful

I'm just going to stop here to prevent any more embarrassment to myself. I'm so glad that him being funny [#2] is more important than him being faithful to me in our marriage [#16] and also that not an alcoholic is a criteria AFTER being good looking. man 7th grade...awesome. Not that any of those are really bad, per say. It's just a weird order, so I would definitely need some rearranging and subtracting/adding of the criteria.

Back to being a gentleman, now, 5 grades later my list would be a lot different. Like I said, I have come to realize that being a gentleman would be somewhere around second on my list. I love that kind of guy. The one who opens the door for you, and were not just talking regular doors, car doors too. He offered up his seat anytime a girl walked in the room and will sit on the floor instead, or offers the girl the front seat in the car while he climbs to the back. Don't forget all of the "after you"s. Basically he will put a girl's needs before any of his own, and enjoys it. Honestly, I can only think of one guy I would consider to really be a gentleman. Which is sad...maybe I'm too harsh. Not that I expect every guy to do that, actually I've come not to expect it from most guys. Which is fine, because the guys I know are my friends, so it could be awkward when good ol' friendship opens the car door for me. But I mean, I still love that regardless. I think it can show maturity too, not always though. However, it definitely shows respect.

I know this will be so hard to believe when those of you who know me read this, but I don't always LET guys help me. Hm. I'm not really sure why either. Opening doors? yes please, check, done. But when it comes to carrying things, unless I'm really about to keel over, I can usually handle it so thanks but no thanks. It's not that I don't want their help, it's just that I know I can carry a box or a suitcase on my own.

So I feel like I just made myself to be a hypocrite because I talked about how I love the "gentleman" attitude, but I then basically I said I don't always need it. I'm very hard to understand, like an onion, lots of layers. Please believe, I'm not one of those crazy women's rights activists or anything that thinks women should rule the world. Anyways, I guess men, never be afraid to offer your strong manly help, but if she shoots you down, don't take it personally, women CAN do things for themselves sometimes. Hmph, that didn't really help either. Never mind, I'm sorry for all the confusion.