After several failed relationships, I began to suspect my daughters’ intense scrutiny of my boyfriends was the issue. “They grilled each man on his intentions, finances, and past,” making every meeting feel like an interrogation. One breakup later, a coworker admitted meeting my daughters “felt like a job interview.”

That’s when it clicked—they weren’t just curious; they were unintentionally scaring off my dates. I sat them down and shared how much I appreciated their protectiveness, but asked for some trust. They opened up, saying they just didn’t want to see me get hurt again.

Understanding each other better brought a shift. When I eventually met someone new, they accepted him with a little less intensity—though I knew they were still quietly observing.Their love hadn’t changed, but their approach had. And that made all the difference.