13Mar
WHEN YOU REACH A RELATIONSHIP “HICCUP” BUT IN REALITY, IT’S A MAJOR RED FLAG
- You don’t get along with his family…Every family is different and it can be difficult to get used to a completely different vibe to the one that exists in your own, especially when you’re thrown together for an extended period of time such as Christmas or a family holiday. Being open and making a big effort with his family is important, as they’re a huge part of his life, but if they’re not returning the favour that needs to change. Feeling a little out of place or uncomfortable at first is normal, but if you feel like his family isn’t respecting you or your relationship it’s time for your partner to step in. If he doesn’t, it may be almost impossible for you to be together long-term. Who wants to feel awkward or uncomfortable at every family event, or how about your engagement party or wedding? If he’s unwilling to stand up for you it’s going to become a problem: just resist the temptation to badmouth his family in front of him, as that’s always going to come back to bite you! If he refuses to step up, make the decision to live with it or move on.
- You disagree about your futures…Do you see yourself moving to London and living in a cute little flat in Fulham, whilst he has no interest in overseas travel? Are you keen to birth three charming children, whereas the sight of a baby causes him to s**t his pants? These issues might seem like future you’s problem, but at the end of the day they’re going to crop up eventually and it’s better to have an open discussion about them sooner rather than later. If you see you and your partner moving in different directions and you can’t see a shared future, it might be time to call it a day. This especially applies when you disagree about something as important about marriage or children, as these decisions will affect the rest of your life and you don’t want to sacrifice things you want just to please someone else.
- You disagree about social issues…This might seem like a no-brainer, but if your bae is as close-minded as Donald Trump’s hairdresser, you should probably ditch him. Being with someone who challenges you, provokes you in all the right ways and encourages you to see the world through different eyes is one of the great things about being in a relationship. Whilst a little disagreement is fine (and let’s face it, no one is going to entirely agree about contentious issues like politics), if your partner refuses to be open-minded or consider anyone but himself, he’s unlikely to be an asset to your future.
Almost any relationship in an issue can be worked through, but if you find yourself disagreeing over the same thing time and time again, it might be worth evaluating whether you should continue making sacrifices for your relationship. If Angelina can do it to Brad Pitt, so can you…
JESSICA DOUGAN || LIFESTYLE CONTRIBUTOR “20-something law student eating and drinking her way through Sydney and kissing a few too many frogs along the way…”
