Marriage

When looking for a potential partner the first three things I look for are as follows:
1. Personality
2. Similar interests/ values
3. Intelligence
(4.) Physical attraction

My mom said she would look for:
1. Values
2. Intelligence
3. Sense of humor

And my dad said he would look for:
1. Similar values
2. Ability to compromise/ open minded
3. Similar long term goals (lifestyle, kids, religion)

     I was not really surprised at my parents' answers to the question because, ultimately, I believe that any good parent would want their child to be happy. When my mom was coming up with answers to this question she had a very difficult time narrowing her selections to just three. She drew upon her experience with the divorce to come up with some of the things that caused conflict in her marriage. Seeing my parents divorce accounts for why many of our top three are the same.
     I still would not be okay with my parents arranging my marriage. Though they may say that these are their top three focal points, there are other things further down the list that could be deal breakers for them that are things that I am looking for. I do not have the same views or values as my parents and would prefer to judge for myself who I am best to be with.