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Your Dating Green Flags

16 replies

headinhands · 30/11/2018 18:55

Inspire by something I just saw on t'internet. What have been your 'green flag moments' when you knew someone was probably a keeper?

One of mine was seeing my boyfriend holding a relative's baby. He was so gentle and spoke to her so softly and she was a smiles and coos. Occurred to me that I hadn't seen any of my other boyfriends show that sort of nurturing side.

OP posts:
RudolphImpersonator · 30/11/2018 19:00

I'm going to be picky- the 'he's a keeper' flags are different to general 'he's a nice bloke' green flags.

I always watch how men treat waiting staff if we're out. Also surreptitiously check how clean their nails are.

LovelyGirlNOT · 30/11/2018 19:05

How much I laugh when in his company.

A comedian who doesn't take himself/me/life too seriously and makes me laugh my socks off has always been big 'keeper' potential for me

starlitsky · 30/11/2018 19:09

When we were only 15 (he was a childhood friend who I rekindled with later in life) he cleared the path at the front of my house for my grandma coming to stay because he'd over heard my dad complaining that he hadn't had chance to do it

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 30/11/2018 19:17

Someone who notices people and is courteous and kind to them - eg he sees a the girl who's been standing at the bar before he was still waiting to be served and he asks the bar staff to serve her first, or he helps the mum struggling with a buggy getting off the train, or sees someone who is looking unwell and he quietly asks if they're ok. Someone who asks you to text when you get home safe if you're travelling by public transport (and will also ask friends to do the same, his concern isn't just for a partner). Someone who is always punctual and doesn't leave you hanging about, because he thinks your time is as valuable as his. These small courtesies and demonstrations of basic human kindness might seem insignificant but I think they are not as common as you'd like to think, and they matter a great deal.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 30/11/2018 19:19

Checking that you get home ok after a date - love that

MrsMrsMrsMrs · 30/11/2018 20:26

After he’d stayed over I looked out of the window and saw him scraping the ice off my car before he left.

Also he made me laugh so much, still does.

headinhands · 30/11/2018 22:40

So many lovely examples. What else is noticeable is the green flags carry on, there's no less green flags now, even after 20 years.

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BG2015 · 30/11/2018 22:52

Mine were being reliable and organising our next date instead of the usual messing about that some guys do. Always on time and doing what he said he would do also impressed me.

Six months in and I was moving house and he cleaned my oven for me, went to the tip and helped me move. He was amazing that day.

Kernowgal · 30/11/2018 23:08

Offering to do things that make life a bit easier. Simple stuff; kindness. I have quite a low bar as my ex was such a selfish arsehole that basic human decency feels like something worth noting when really it should just be the norm. Not that I would ever take someone for granted.

PerfectionistProcrastinator · 30/11/2018 23:08

We are nearly 4 years in now but I often find myself thinking about how lucky I am to have found dp.

At a family wedding sit down meal when the veg for the table came out, dp immediately got up, went over to my elderly grandparents and started dishing them up a portion of what they wanted.

He’s lovely Smile

headinhands · 30/11/2018 23:27

At a family wedding sit down meal when the veg for the table came out, dp immediately got up, went over to my elderly grandparents and started dishing them up a portion of what they wanted.

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NameChangeToAvoidBeingFound · 01/12/2018 09:18

When he met me when I was ridiculously hungover after drunk messaging him the day before, he teased me like nothing else but also made sure I'd had a lot of water and coffee and painkillers before I headed off back home.

When he charmed my mother because he 'takes care of me' not sure how she figured that out we spent our time arguing over board games and wrestling for a torch Hmm but apparently he gives off that vibe and she likes the way he looks at me.

When he visibly liked seeing how close my family are and seeing the 'huggy/tactile' me who lets her aunt grab her face to kiss her cheek and will hug and kiss their aunt and mother just because I was walking past and wanted too. He liked how close and loving and free with affection we are, tbh our other friends who were with us did too but he was bizarrely pleased about it. When the option was for him to meet my marvel mad 8yr old nephew and my 7yr old niece or go to the beach he insisted on meeting my nephew instead and went out of his way to wear a marvel themed shirt because my nephew would like it. He was also very pleased by how happy my niece and nephew were to see me. They reacted by jumping and tackling me to be held and lifted and cuddled while shrieking my name and I was happy to oblige. I adore my nieces and nephews. He was also great with my nephew and thrilled when my nephew announced that he was one of his favourite people (other than me my nephew hasn't met an adult that likes marvel who is willing to sit and debate the ins and outs of the universe with him) that and my nephew checked that he knows I'm autistic and asked if he'd look after me he promised he would. (We were not dating but going on a group's holiday with other friends)

When we were on holiday and I panicked basically every night in the crowd and he alternated by using himself as a human shield and holding my hand so I'd stay calm and leading me through it without it being a bother or inconvenience or me even having to tell him I was struggling, he just knew.

When he hinted at wanting to be my plus one to a family wedding (something I didn't realise till after the wedding because yay autism Grin), and talked about his wedding and my wedding Hmm not necessarily the idea of us getting married but what I'd want versus what he'd want and how they'd fit together.

And when he said that he wants my family to like him, in response to my saying that I'm not sure how my family would take to him. He was oddly pleased with how highly my mother thinks of him and that my family want to meet him and take him out for a few drinks. Especially my grandad.

Have to add we're not dating but ideally I'd like to change that if I can. If not I've a great friend and whoever he ends up with is incredibly lucky and I will measure my standards of a man and how a man should behave against him.

He knows I'm autistic and it doesn't phase him at all, his dad and older sibling are so there is no condescending or assuming of my abilities or needs, just acceptance and a spark which is rather fun.

NameChangeToAvoidBeingFound · 01/12/2018 09:23

He's also very much on the same wavelength and we spend a lot of time talking seriously or needling each other just for the reaction (always in jest and very entertaining to us both) and he makes me laugh. Our friends have decided we're basically an old married couple and once when we were staying at a friends her parents and friends got it into their heads we were dating and refuse to be convinced otherwise. Apparently we give that vibe while also being in my friends words sickenly domestic, her mum popped her head into the kitchen once while he was preparing our breakfast and I was making tea and apparently commented on how 'sweet' it was that we were so in sync with each other.

CigarsofthePharoahs · 01/12/2018 09:52

Kindness.
He's always been kind and caring. I saw how he was with his elderly father - and I saw how his father looked at him when he thought no-one was looking. He was so proud of DH. Rightly so!
Miss the old gent.

TroyKing · 01/12/2018 10:07

Thoughtful generosity.

Not the flash 'I'll pay for everything' but paying or buying for things without any ado.

An example being a friend broke her leg and couldn't walk her dogs and we couldn't help as she doesn't live near us so he booked and paid for a dog walker to come every day to help her whilst she recovered.

ForalltheSaints · 01/12/2018 10:45

Being reliable and on time.

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