CHECK UPON IT...

With summer around the corner, practically in a few days there are a lot of "new" things that people look forward to. I look at June as a "Happy New Year" all over again because, it's the half of the year, 2nd part of the year, whatever you would like to call it. New body. New you. New this. New that. And New Love.

Those summer nights, outdoor concerts, and new summer music has a way of making folks hormones swim fast speed ahead. Lots of conception  and "relations" is going on...if you know what I mean...HOWEVER, the baby-making outweighs the family-building.

Courting is a beautiful process that I still believe in. It is actually a time where you get to know someone. Find out about them. I remember if I liked someone the first thing my grandmother would ask me is: "Who are their people?" Grant it, you can't judge a person by their family background, but you sho' know what you're up against. If there are children involved the question is: do they spend time with their children? How is the relationship with the other parent? How do they discipline their children? And this important question that for some reason gets overlooked: Do they pay child support? I've heard some of my girlfriends say that the child support payment doesn't affect them. THINK AGAIN. If you plan on marrying this person, every penny that goes out of your household into expenses that are not accumulated by you TOGETHER, affects you, your future children, and your financial goals.

This is not a post to bash men. This is a thought for men AND women. It is also important to learn what happened in their last relationship. If that person is putting more of the "hurt emphasis" (is what I like to call it) on the other person,  SERIOUS NOTES. There are two sides to EVERY STORY. I know, "Oh, he had a bad relationship. He's just a great guy and it didn't work out." NO! Can a person look at themselves to take responsibility as well?

GOD always, ALWAYS shows us red flags. Sometimes we just don't see the STOP signs. There is a yellow light for a reason before it turns red. The yellow light says, "SLOW DOWN. Red's about to show up." Don't just keep driving through that green light. Take heed. Don't let the summer's fun cause you to choose a lifetime headache.

Do they have a relationship with GOD? Study their financial habits. Do they talk about family? How do they feel about their parents? Do they demonstrate love? What is their outlook on life? Of course, folks will try to give you answers that they know you want to hear, but guess what...the beautiful thing about this..is that YOU HAVE A CHOICE. STUDY them like a calculus test.

If that person says you're moving too slow or they want to come over your house at booty call and drop it like its hot hours, then you know what's on their mind. Your body is an investment. Your time is precious. A wolf can't stay in sheep's clothing long. It's not in their nature and habitat. ANYBODY can demonstrate good behavior in the beginning. Remember you're valuable. Know your worth. Know what character you're choosing.