Dating nowadays can feel like a conveyor belt—repetitive and soulless—but every woman deserves to know the minimum she should expect from a man at this stage.
Don’t.
Don’t give yourself away too easily. Men are wired to chase, and they can’t truly value what’s handed to them on a silver platter. So don’t take that away from them. A man with serious intentions won’t mind putting in the effort for his lady if he knows she’s worth it. During courtship, both sides want to prove themselves—let him invest his time and energy in you.
Midpoint
Think of the first month as the midpoint—men ride the initial excitement, but after that, everything is decided. They can put on a great show in the first month, but if they don’t take you seriously, their enthusiasm fades fast. The first 30 days are the "campaign period"—what matters is how they act afterward.
Time
This is a man’s most valuable resource, and if he gives you plenty of it, that’s a great sign. If he makes an effort to spend time with you, he’s serious. But if he’s often "busy," "something came up," "tired," or disappears, it’s not worth your energy.
Effort
This separates the guy you like from the one who’s planning a future with you. You should feel he’s really trying. That means consistent communication, planning dates, and following through. If he’s lazy about courting, he’ll be lazy in the relationship too.
In Waves
If he’s willing to spend time, energy, and money on you but his interest comes and goes in waves, he’s counting on you always being there and not going anywhere. That means you’re the one who has to adjust, and he holds the reins. If he disappears for days or only arranges dates every couple of weeks, it’s best to set your boundaries early and let him know this won’t work for you.
Intentions
If the relationship doesn’t move forward—he doesn’t introduce you to friends or family—he’s content with the "situationship" and doesn’t want more. Then there’s the case where he’s present and things progress nicely but he doesn’t invest—he doesn’t plan activities, just invites you over or comes to you. He doesn’t truly appreciate you because he already assumes you’re his and doesn’t put in extra effort to spoil you.
Curiosity
You need to feel his enthusiasm and genuine interest. He wants to know your future plans—where you see your life, whether you want kids, and so on. If he doesn’t ask these questions, he’s not planning a future with you.
Money
Don’t take seriously a man who suggests splitting the bill on the first date. Let him pay and invest in the relationship—after all, he’s the man. If he’s not willing, he probably wasn’t serious about you anyway. Feminism aside, a healthy approach is for the man to cover about 70% and the woman 30% of dating expenses. This means it’s good to let him pay during the courtship, but if you want to return the favor, wait until the 3rd or 4th date to cover the bill.
