The One Piece of Dating Advice From Father I’ll Never Forget – Parenting Quotes
My father told me once to never date anyone who talks smoothly around you from the start because if someone likes you they should be a little nervous. And honestly I think that’s some of the best advice anyone has ever given me.
The best dating advice from my father didn’t come in the middle of some big dramatic heartbreak. It wasn’t even during a deep, emotional conversation.
It was just a random day, probably while I was scrolling through my phone, and he casually said, “Never date someone who talks too smoothly right from the start. If they like you, they should be a little nervous around you.”
At the time, I laughed. But the older I get, the more I realize — that one sentence was pure gold. Maybe even the single best piece of relationship advice I’ve ever received.
Because here’s the thing: we’ve been conditioned to believe that confidence is sexy. That smooth-talking charmers who know exactly what to say and when to say it are the ones we should be falling for.
But my dad’s advice flipped that idea on its head. And honestly? He was onto something. Fathers know best, huh?
Over time, I started noticing it for myself. The people who made me feel like I was being swept off my feet too fast, who said all the right things right away — they didn’t always have the right intentions.
That slickness? That overconfidence? It was often a distraction. A way to avoid showing their real selves. And looking back, it was one of those classic red flags in dating that I just didn’t see clearly at the time.
It took me a while to realize that the people who genuinely liked me, who saw me as someone special — they were a little awkward. A little shy. They stumbled over their words.
They asked genuine questions and didn’t have perfectly rehearsed lines. They weren’t trying to impress me with stories or flirty comments. They were trying to connect. And there’s a big difference.
Now, I’m not saying everyone confident is a walking red flag. But there’s a type of smoothness that doesn’t come from confidence — it comes from practice.
It’s polished, intentional, and sometimes a little manipulative. When someone is too smooth too soon, it’s worth pausing and asking yourself: Are they being real with me, or just playing a role?
This is where good relationship advice really hits home. It’s not always about grand gestures or romance movie moments.
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Sometimes, it’s about noticing the little things — like how someone looks at you, how present they are in conversations, and yes, how nervous they get around you.
Those butterflies? They matter.
When I think back to my dad’s advice, I’m struck by how simple and quietly powerful it was. It came from experience, not a self-help book. Maybe that’s why fathers know best in a way we often don’t appreciate when we’re younger.
There’s a kind of quiet wisdom in their words — they’ve seen more, felt more, and learned a few hard lessons themselves.
And maybe that’s why it stuck with me. Because even though my dad doesn’t say a lot about relationships, that one line continues to echo in my head whenever I meet someone new.
If they’re too smooth, too perfect, too quick with the compliments — I remember what he said. And I take a step back.
Because dating isn’t about being dazzled — it’s about being seen, understood, and accepted. And someone who’s genuinely into you won’t be trying to perform.
They’ll just show up — nervously, maybe awkwardly, but honestly. And that kind of love? It’s the kind that lasts.
So if you’re out there navigating the wild world of modern dating, let this be a gentle reminder: not all red flags in dating are dramatic. Some come disguised as charm.
And sometimes, the best relationship advice comes from your dad, delivered in the simplest sentence — at the most unexpected time.
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