The idea of cutting an ex out of your life completely directly after breaking up is extremely painful.  Your ex could be someone who you have lived with, loved, shared your life with, cared for, sacrificed for, opened up to, relied on, and so much more.  So many elements of your relationship are special and this person became special.  But sometimes when a serious relationship ends, a complete and drastic break is the best option for both of you.
I was just reading Michelle’s article “Can You Be Friends With an Ex?” that addresses similar issues.  Everyone imagines a perfect scenario …read more

I wrote an article last month called Are You Ready To Move In Together? that addressed the serious issues that should probably be resolved before signing a lease together.  As a follow-up I would like to propose a new set of questions to answer before moving in together that are not related to serious relationship issues, but instead address the issues related to sharing space.  Before you move in together it might be helpful to discover your level of compatibility as roommates.  Your relationship could be perfect, but if you drive each other crazy just because you live under the …read more

It goes without saying that moving in together is a HUGE change in your relationship.  It’s a big decision, so it’s something that you really need to think about and discuss at length to make sure that you are doing what is best for both of you.  Moving in together is exciting, but moving out is like going through a divorce so make sure that it is the right decision.
Here are a few questions to discuss with your significant other before you take the plunge:

Are we doing this because of financial reasons?  This is the biggest mistake that you could …read more

I’m sure that it’s happened in my own relationships and I see it in relationships all around me all the time.  My observations might fall into some gender stereotypes, but when I see I pattern I just need to call attention to it and find out if other people feel the same way.  I am addressing this from a woman’s viewpoint, but the same situation could definitely exist in the reverse for a man.
If you have been in a serious relationship for a long time you probably think that it is moving towards engagement and marriage.  As the years tick …read more

If you have been dating for weeks or years, meeting your significant other’s family for the first time is a big deal.  If you ask people for advice, they will all probably say “be yourself,” but I actually think that for such a big occasion there are a lot more things to keep in mind.  A successful relationship with your in-laws requires a balance between being yourself and adjusting to accomodate the differences that exist between their family and yours.
Here are some tips for succeeding when meeting the in-laws for the first time:

Be polite. This is your chance to use …read more

Are you the girl that a guy would want to date? Or are you the girl that a guy would want to marry?
Some will claim that one cannot actually be certain about that esp if the relationship is in the early stages. Some will claim that couple will eventually discover between themselves that marriage is the next step.
But here’s the thing. If you’re an onlooker, can you tell if she’s the girl he would marry? How can you tell if a girl is just someone that this guy is dating, exclusively or not, and not someone he’s looking into spending …read more

It’s one of those things that’s inevitable when it comes to relationships taking a serious turn — you’re bound to meet the family.
Gah.
It’s stressful. You’ll find yourself torn between being yourself and making a move to impress the folks.
It’s bad enough that you have to get used to an expectant public, meeting his or her friends, him or her meeting yours and then it’ll be time to mingle with the family.
How to deal

Make yourself presentable.
Don’t be afraid to speak up.
There’s no harm in being polite and courteous.
Let them know that he or she IS special to you.
Smiling works, too.
And yea, …read more