If a guy doesn’t say “I love you” in three months, he’s “not the one,” according to a self-proclaimed “no-nonsense” dating expert.
Controversial Australian dating coach Jake Maddock sparked a heated debate when he laid down the law on how long it should take a man to declare his love.
“If your partner doesn’t say ‘I love you’ very clearly at 12 weeks, then they’re not your ideal partner and you’ve wasted your time,” Jake said in an online video.
“Twelve weeks, not 52, twelve weeks, three months… that’s all you have,” the expert insisted. “I love you” is the key to a successful relationship.
She said women who stayed with their partners beyond that time without anyone telling them they loved them were simply “wasting time on potential.”
“You’ll know with your ideal partner, and she’ll know too,” Jake added.
Men and women were deeply divided about Jake’s deadline for knowing whether a relationship would work or not, but many people called his stark advice “fact.”
“Yes, the 90-day rule. After that, you’re wasting your time,” one woman said.
Controversial relationship coach Jake Maddock said women should end a relationship if their partner had not clearly told them “I love you” within the first three months.
Jake thought the three-month limit was the key to a successful relationship, and that many women waste their time staying with a partner who isn’t clear about his feelings for them.
“It’s an unpopular opinion, but I agree. I got married in less than 12 weeks and I’m happily married to my best friend and next month I’m celebrating my 10th anniversary,” said another woman.
“When you’re ready, ladies, ask those tough questions and know what you want, don’t settle, and when you find it, trust me, you’ll know in less than 12 weeks,” she added.
Others said it was “wild” to put a deadline on love and insisted that three months was definitely too soon to know for sure.
“After 43 years of marriage, that’s absurd,” one woman said.
“It’s too soon. You’re tripping,” another woman agreed.
People who defended Jake’s “tough love” rule accused those who thought three months was too soon of being “unhealed messes.”
“You shouldn’t need this long to feel feelings of love or you are very damaged, if so, stop dating and work on yourself,” said one woman.
Others countered that those who say “I love you” too soon are often guilty of “love bombing” since it’s an easy word to use.
“My ex boyfriend told me he loved me after a week, I wish I would have run away then… love at its finest,” one woman said.
One woman made Jake resort to the grimace emoji when she told him she was still waiting for an “I love you” after 16 months.
This isn’t the first hard and fast dating rule the relationship expert has shared with his fans.
Jake said he had cracked the code for single women looking for men of the right age to date.
Mr Maddock believes that single women need to be with men who are at least ten years older than them.
“An older man is likely to be less commitment-phobic and more decisive about where he wants to take the relationship,” Jake said.
“You will also have a more mature outlook when it comes to resolving problems and relationship issues,” he added.