What exactly does being a "modern woman" mean? I suppose it allows us to pay, drive, make plans and do things that only the man of the relationship could do when chivalry was still alive. The modern woman says she wants the relationship to be equal, but is that all just talk?

My parents told me the guy is supposed to call me during the early stages of a relationship. They attempted to hammer into my head that my suitor should make the dates and pay for them.

Just so we are clear, my first boyfriend wanted to date me because I didn't wait for him to call-I phoned him myself. We were together for a year and a half.

My friends were raised with the same parental perspective on dating, but they took what their parents said to heart. They meet boys and wait for them to call. And they're disappointed when they never hear back from their crushes.

They let what could have been the start of a great relationship slip by just because they felt they had to play by the old-fashioned dating rules.

Talking to my good guy friend about "the first call," he provided me with insight about the male mindset. He told me the reason guys like to be the first to call doesn't stem from a need to feel macho, but a need to just feel like the man.

But the question of who should always be answered with simple economics: He-or she-who can afford it should pay. Relationships are all about compromise, and how can there be compromise if everyone is still playing by our parents' rules of dating?

I say damn the old rules and bring on the bill. I'm ready to pay.