I spent Easter with my grandparents, and had a really interesting conversation with my Grandmother about the rising percentage of single people. As background, my grandparents are neither conservative nor super-religious, and they've traveled all over the world.

I mentioned the phenomenon of women waiting longer to get married, and then bemoaning the fact they had fewer desirable options. My Grandmother said "Well, of course they have fewer options! A woman's youth and beauty are what attracts a man's initial interest."

I then mentioned that women have many other ways to attract a man besides beauty, and she said "Yes, but that is what will make a man focus on her long enough to learn her other good qualities."

I was delighted that she was so matter-of-fact about it. I said that many women today would consider such an attitude hateful of women. My grandmother said, "Well, it's just common sense. It's not hateful of women, it's just natural. It's something her parents should have taught her. Mothers are setting their daughters up to be miserable these days."

I'm sharing this because I believe our elders have lots of wonderful things to teach us, and it was nice to have this meme validated.