Is your guy a frog or a prince?

 

The only way to find out if a guy is a frog or a prince is to spend a little time getting to know him. It's worthwhile to remember that a true prince may be very frog-like at first glance, but if you take time to look beneath the warts and mud, you may find a young man waiting for the right princess to help him assume his true form.

Here are some helpful hints to help discover what lies under the slimy, green exterior:

* Is he neat and clean? Good personal hygiene is a priority. He doesn't need be extremely handsome, in fact, it's better if he is not. That type are likely to be conceited and may be very hard to hold on to. You know how slippery frogs are.

* Listen carefully when he speaks. Is he polite and respectful? Do you find his grammar and expressive vocabulary acceptable? Could you happily listen to this manner of speaking for the rest of your life?

* Your cultural backgrounds and religions should be the same, or at least compatible. Even after he becomes your prince, will he expect you to dress in forest green and eat flies with him?

* Check his family background. If his parents enjoyed a happy, long-term marriage, he will probably expect to have the same. When you meet his parents, see if their relationship is one of ease and affection, or if they often snipe and criticize each other. This may be how he may relate to his mate, once the initial glow of romance fades.

* You should have similar educational backgrounds. A girl as wise as an owl will not be happy with a croaking amphibian.

* If you want to have a family, arrange to babysit young relatives together. Does he relate well to children? Also discuss ideas of a perfect family size. There are a multitude of tadpoles in a normal frog family.

* Is he occupationally well-adjusted? If he's happy in his work and makes enough to support a family, that's a big plus. It's also an asset if he's normally ambitious, but let the workaholic hop away.

* Check out his friends and extended family members. They will be part of your life too if you choose to stay with him. If you usually associate with eagles and most of his family and friends are frogs, there's bound to be be trouble.

* Observe his immediate environment. If his apartment, his car, his desk, or any space for which he is personally responsible is dusty, cluttered and in need of cleaning, don't expect much help with the housework.

* Finally, look honestly at his faults and bad habits. Everybody has some. Does he lie, cheat, talk about his friends behind their backs, cheat on his taxes? Is he cheap, bad tempered, inconsiderate, and selfish? Has it been his custom to go carousing with the boy frogs several nights a week? Even princesses cannot eliminate basic character flaws completely.

If you've reviewed the above criteria, and decided that the young man rates a "satisfactory" for most of the items, and you think you can live with the others, congratulations! You've found your prince.

You can begin to plan for a lavish royal wedding. Since he probably isn't the Greek god type, you won't need to worry about the other girls stealing him away, but if I were you, I'd include many trousseau items in an alluring forest green shade just be on the safe side.