I never thought my daughters would be the reason I stayed single—until I realized they were scaring off every man I dated.
At first, I didn’t see the connection. I’d meet someone nice, we’d click, and then… poof. He’d disappear after meeting my girls. It happened so often that I started to wonder if I was cursed.
Then, after yet another breakup, a friend pointed out the obvious: “Your daughters are terrifying.” And he wasn’t wrong. The moment I introduced a new guy, they’d launch into a full-scale investigation. “What are your intentions with our mom?” “How much do you make?” “Why did your last relationship fail?” It was like watching a courtroom drama unfold in my living room.
I knew they meant well. After my divorce, they’d become fiercely protective. But their love had turned into a gatekeeping mission, and I was the one paying the price.
So, I decided to have an honest talk with them. “I get why you do this,” I said. “But I need you to let me take the lead in my own love life.” At first, they resisted—they didn’t want me to get hurt. But eventually, they agreed to dial it back.
The next time I brought someone home, the change was subtle but huge. They still watched him like hawks, but they didn’t interrogate him. And for the first time in years, a relationship actually had room to grow.
Sometimes, love means stepping back—even when every instinct tells you to step in.
