By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
9 tricks to stop dating jerks
823b131ebc72a40df04c5a4a68f97b6608926c4771cd6d66eab330b462905a3c
Find out 9 tricks that can stop you from dating jerks once and for all. - photo by Tamsyn Valentine
You are an attractive woman. You have many things going for you; you are well-educated, dress nice, take care of yourself physically, and love to have fun.

Despite all these wonderful attributes, it seems that all the men you attract never treat you right; in fact, they all just seem to be jerks.

While it may be easy to blame all the men out there, the problem may actually begin with you.

Here are 9 tricks to help a wonderful woman such as yourself to stop dating jerks once and for all.

1. Stop making excuses

When it comes to jerks this is an important trick. We have all been there when we have made excuses for a man such as, He is just really busy. Its okay that he has not called me for three days even though we had plans. Or the tried and true, Im just being too needy. Its OKAY if he prefers going out with his friends over hanging out with me. In the end if you have to make excuses for him, whatever they may be, he probably isnt treating you right.

2. Be confident in yourself

Like it was mentioned before, you are an amazing woman. You deserve the best. So why settle for a jerk? Even if it means you have to be single for a while, have enough confidence in yourself and your self-worth to know that you do not deserve to be dating a jerk that doesnt seem to understand this.

3. Hang out with friends

Sometimes gaining a little perspective is a good thing, especially when that perspective may come from the people you care about. Go out with your closest friends, and if they seem to be noticing that your guy is a jerk, most likely he is a jerk.

4. Listen to good advice

Along with hanging out with your friends comes something very important when it comes to ceasing to date jerks- listening to good advice. When your friends or family members share with you advice about dating, and maybe point out the fact that the guy you are dating is in fact a jerk, listen. Sometimes we can be so caught up in a relationship that we cant see what is right in front of us; the fact we are dating a jerk.

5. Be aware of his friends

We become the people we surround ourselves with, right? So if it seems that all of his friends are jerks, there is a big chance that he is too. There are exceptions to this rule but they are very, VERY rare. Also the way he acts around his friends is a big sign; if he is a jerk when he is with them, but nice when he is alone with you, he is still a jerk.

6. The end is really the end

If it seems that your jerk is jerking you around in your relationship, chances are he is. If one day your relationship is perfect and the next you are on the verge of breaking up, this is not healthy. So when a jerk breaks up with you or just wants to take a break, take it as the end. This means the end is the end. Dont go back to him when it seems he wants you back.

7. Take a break

This can mean either from the relationship or dating in general. Sometimes after ending a relationship with a jerk it is important to take a step back and gain some perspective; perspective that will prevent you from dating another jerk.

8. Communicate

Misunderstandings happen in relationships all the time. The way this is solved is through direct communication. If the guy you are dating is aloof and does not seem to want to communicate through those misunderstandings, it's a good chance hes a jerk. So communicate to him that this is important to you and if he does not care to do so, move on.

9. Love yourself

Loving yourself is the key ingredient to not dating a jerk. If you love yourself, chances are you will attract someone who treats you like the queen you are. So love yourself enough to stop dating jerks.
Sign up for our E-Newsletters
How to avoid 'sharenting' and other paparazzi parenting habits
ce406c66b9871a104ac24256a687e4821d75680dcfc89d9e5398939543f7f88f
A recent study revealed parents often spend up to two hours staging a single photo of his or her child to post online. - photo by Amy Iverson
Before having kids, some people just dont appreciate their friends baby posts. But after having a child of their own, three fourths of new parents jump right on the parental social media bandwagon. If you have become a member of this group, there are some rules to follow for posting responsibly.

Much of a parents worry is how to teach their children to use social media responsibly. We talk with our kids about privacy, oversharing, and setting restrictions on their devices to keep them safe. But parents themselves need to look in the digital mirror once in a while. Before having children, it doesnt take as much effort to think about what to post online. Its up to us to decide what we share about our own lives. But once you become a parent, there are many questions to think about regarding what is appropriate to post about your kids on social media.

In a recent survey, kids clothing subscription company Mac and Mia surveyed 2000 new parents to find out how they are documenting their kids lives on social media, and what concerns they may have.

First of all, people without children seem to feel a bit differently about the onslaught of baby pictures online than those who are parents. 18 percent of people say before they had kids, they were annoyed by their friends baby posts. But after having children of their own, 73 percent admit they post progress pictures of their little ones every single month.

Not only are new parents letting the world know each time their baby is a month older, but they are posting about their kids every few days or so. Men and women report they post 6-7 times per month about their baby.

And while 70 percent of new parents say the benefit of using social media is how easy it is to help family and friends feel involved, there are some downsides. Here are a few tips to avoid the pitfall of becoming paparazzi parents.

Dont miss the moment

In the Mac and Mia survey, some parents admitted to spending up to two hours to get the perfect shot of their baby. That seems a little extreme. New and old parents alike should be careful about spending so much time taking pictures and videos that they dont enjoy the moment. Years ago, I decided to never live an experience through my phone. A study by Linda Henkel, a psychology professor at Fairfield University in Connecticut, found that when people took pictures of objects in an art museum, they didnt remember the objects as well as if they simply observed them.

This photo-taking impairment effect can happen to parents as well. If we are so consumed by getting the perfect photo, we can miss out on the moment all together, and our memory of it will suffer.

Dont forget about privacy

60 percent of couples say they have discussed rules and boundaries for posting their babys photos, according to the Mac and Mia survey. Even so, men are 34 percent more likely to publish baby posts on public accounts. If parents are concerned about their childrens privacy, keeping photos off of public accounts is a given.

In the Washington Post, Stacey Steinberg, a legal skills professor at the University of Florida, and Bahareh Keith, a Portland pediatrician, wrote that sharing too much information about kids online puts them at risk. They write that all that sharenting can make it easier for data thieves to target out kids for identity theft. Check that your privacy settings are where they should be and never share identifying information like full names and birth dates.

Dont be paparazzi parents

36 percent of parents say they take issue when their childs photo is posted online by someone else. Responsible social media users will always ask permission before posting a photo of another child. But parents should also think about whether their own children will take issue with their own posted photos a few years down the road.

When parents are constantly snapping pictures and throwing them on social media, it can be easy to forget to pause and make sure the post is appropriate. I always use the billboard example with my kids. I ask them to picture whatever they are posting going up on a billboard in our neighborhood. If they are okay with that, then their post is probably fine. Parents should ask themselves this same question when posting about their children. But they should also ask themselves if their child would be OK with this post on a billboard in 15 years. If it would cause embarrassment or humiliation, it might be best to keep it private.

Once children reach an appropriate age, parents should include them in the process of deciding what pictures are OK to post. Researchers at the University of Michigan surveyed 10- to 17-year-olds and found children believe their parents should ask permission more than parents think they should. The kids in the survey said sharing happy family moments, or accomplishments in sports, school and hobbies is fine. But when the post is negative (like when a child is disciplined) or embarrassing (think naked baby pictures or messy hair), kids say to keep it off social media.
Latest Obituaries