Let's Talk Relationships (Page 34)

Amber Brooks

By: Amber Brooks

Editor: Lillian Castro

Updated:

Relationships have incredible upsides, in fact too many to list here. But they can also be a lot of work if we’re being honest. We know the dynamics of romantic partnerships can feel somewhat like a mystery, especially if it’s your first or your first serious one in a while.

So to ease things up, our experts have agreed to provide key insights into navigating the ebbs and flows of relationships, and how they can add value and joy to our lives.

Our expert-backed content provides readers with the advice to approach relationships with intention, effort, and understanding. Whether you’re in a relationship or dating to find one, our experts want to guide you to take healthy steps toward meeting your goals.

We’ll recommend the best dating apps and sites for getting serious and discuss the steps you should take to settle down and commit. Our authors also cover the five love languages, attachment styles, codependency, and more helpful tips, so you can love better and live fuller.

1118 Results

What Our Experts Say:

991.
How Can I Become a Better Listener?
Nick Slade

Nick Slade

Listening is the key to communication. Talking is only useful if you know what you’re responding to and use words as a shared pipeline to convey emotions and solve problems. The first way to become a better listener is to stop talking. Forget the monologue in which you just tell your girl what’s on your mind and what your day was like. Hear what she has to say, and use that as the basis for a two-way...

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992.
I Have Feelings for a Friend. Should We Try it Out?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: I am really close friends with this guy. He told me he has feelings for me. I told him I have feelings for him also. He told me it’s my decision on what we should do, but I do not know what to do. Should we stay close friends for now, try it out or go on a few dates as friends first? -Jamillah C. (Florida) Dr. Wendy Walsh's Answer: You’re doing it. Friendship should come first. Stay close...

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993.
Why Do People Not Accept Responsibility in Relationships?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: Why is it that a good number of people don't accept responsibility in a relationship besides being in a state of denial? -Tom Dr. Wendy Walsh's Answer: Hmmm….are you suggesting that a "good number of people" refuse to see things your way? Here’s a newsflash: Couples live in two different worlds. Each partner sees the relationship in terms of their own perspective and personal...

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994.
How to Introduce Kids to a New Date
Sam Stieler

Sam Stieler

If you’re a senior man with kids, then you’ve inevitably wondered when, and how, you should introduce those kids to the women you date. This is a tricky question with a couple important points to keep in mind, so let’s get right into it. Don’t introduce a "new" date to your kids. There is absolutely no reason to introduce a woman you just met to your kids. It sends the wrong message to your kids, it sends the wrong...

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995.
She Doesn’t Want Long Distance. Should I Give Up?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: I've been dating someone and have grown quite fond of her. We actually dated last summer as well, but one of our issues is long distance. She's had bad experiences with long distance and says she doesn't want to do that again. Second, she's not over her ex-boyfriend. I really like her and feel a strong connection. She says she likes me, too. I want to continue talking to her but only if it's...

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996.
What Are the Ground Rules for Friends With Benefits?
Nick Slade

Nick Slade

The number one ground rule for a woman in a "friends with benefits" situation is to pretend you are a man. Men are very good at separating the sexual act from feelings of intimacy and love, while women are more likely to feel an emotional bond with their physical lover. Don’t go into such an arrangement thinking, somewhere in the back of your mind, that you can leverage this sexual tryst into a loving...

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997.
Do Liberals and Conservatives Have Different Sex?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

The sex lives of Americans is ever changing according to psychologist Mark Regnerus Ph.D., whose provocative "Premarital Sex in America: How Young Americans Meet, Mate and Think about Marrying" makes that clear. Today, more than 90 percent of Americans have sex before they say "I do." Maybe we’re becoming more liberal with our sex lives, or maybe the sex lives of the red and blue don’t differ as much as we think...

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998.
The Pros of Dating Long Distance
Sam Stieler

Sam Stieler

Discussions concerning long-distance dating almost always revolve around the potentially negative fallout of these admittedly challenging relationships. Yet long-distance relationships provide just as many benefits as points against. You simply need to dig a little deeper, and apply an unconventional outlook, to find the bright spots offered by dating from a distance. Healthy emotional connections require...

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999.
3 Things to Consider Before Moving in With Your Girlfriend
Sam Stieler

Sam Stieler

Thinking about moving in with your girlfriend, eh? Deciding to live with your woman can be the best, or the worst, decision you’ve ever made, depending almost entirely on how well you’ve thought it all through. Here are a few points of consideration you need to thoroughly entertain before taking the plunge and boxing up your things. Why are you moving in together? There are some good and bad reasons for deciding...

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1000.
How to Train a Man to Call Instead of Text
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

While text messaging may seem like a quick, convenient way to communicate with a partner, it’s also void of emotional intimacy and not the best way to develop the communication skills needed for a long-term relationship. Of course, texts can be helpful down the road for a quick check-in or confirmation of a date, but they aren’t meant for nurturing a budding relationship. Yet, women tell me all the time that...

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1001.
How to Prepare Yourself for Marriage
Nick Slade

Nick Slade

Marriage is the most important step you will take in your life, even more important and binding than your career choice. The partner you choose is immensely important, but the way you approach the commitment of marriage is even more important in creating a happy and fulfilling life. Always remember that happiness is not something you "find," but rather it's something you build together as a couple, brick by brick....

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1002.
He’s Going Into the Air Force. How Do We Spend Our Time?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: I have been dating my boyfriend for about a year and half now. He is about to go into the Air Force and I don't know how to take it. His family is trying to keep him at home and away from me. I don't know if he realizes it or not, but it kind of hurts my feelings. I'm not trying to come between his family, but this is my last year with him and I want to spend it the best way I can. -Georgia A....

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1003.
She Works During the Week and I’m Lonely. What Do You Think?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: I’m in a very good relationship. However, weekends are the only times we have available. We met on Match.com and are in our 60s. She still works two jobs during the week and I'm semi-retired. I am very lonely during the week. What do you think? -Ben (South Carolina) Dr. Wendy Walsh's Answer: It sounds like the two of you have different relationship needs and expectations. And your financial...

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1004.
He Hasn’t Asked to Be Facebook Friends. Do I Tell Him How I Feel?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: I have been in a long-distance relationship with a guy for about eight months now, and I feel that we are really into each other. He calls me his girlfriend, but I have a problem because he has not asked to be my friend on Facebook. I know for a fact he's keeping me a secret. Do I call it quits or just talk to him and tell him how I really feel? -Lowe (California) Dr. Wendy Walsh's Answer:...

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1005.
I Feel Canadians Are Open to Interracial Dating. Why is This?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: As an American living in Canada for more than 20 years, I feel Canadians are more open to interracial dating/marriage than Americans. You being the opposite, a Canadian living in the States, do you have the same observation? Why is this so? -Keith (Canada) Dr. Wendy Walsh's Answer: I hear what you’re saying but the research doesn’t seem to support your thesis. According to a 2010 Pew research,...

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1006.
Is Chivalry Dead or Alive and Well?
Bethany Heinesh

Bethany Heinesh

I was recently struck by a comment made by a seemingly nice guy during a random encounter we shared at a local store. The guy went out of his way to hold the door open for me and waited patiently for me to pass through it. When I did, I said jokingly, "Well, I guess chivalry isn’t dead!" His reply? "Nope, it’s not dead -- just real tired, ma'am." I laughed because I thought it was a witty response, but it wasn’t...

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1007.
How Can I Forgive My Boyfriend for Cheating?
Bethany Heinesh

Bethany Heinesh

If your man has cheated and you have decided to give him another chance, you must forgive and move forward immediately. Don’t obsess about how good she was in bed or if she did this or that to him, and don’t ask him any such questions. The answers will only hurt you and lead to further insecurity. Do ask him why he did what he did and figure out together how you can be stronger for the experience.

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1008.
How Can I Get Her to Like Public Displays of Affection?
Kara Pound

Kara Pound

Public displays of affection are acts of physical intimacy in the view of others. This can range from a closed-mouth kiss between new husband and wife at the conclusion of a wedding to teenagers groping each other in a Brazilian nightclub. Whatever your definition of PDA, some people are comfortable with it and some are not. If you happen to be dating a woman who prefers to restrict intimacy to the bedroom, but...

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1009.
Should I Pick My Friends Over My Girlfriend?
Kara Pound

Kara Pound

This is by no means a black and white topic. There are hundreds of variables that come into play when answering this type of question. Let's look at two of them: one where you should choose your girlfriend and one where you should choose your buddies. Example A: If your girlfriend is one step from becoming your fiance, then you should always choose her. I mean, you plan on spending every day together for the rest...

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1010.
Age Matters — Sometimes!
Nick Slade

Nick Slade

Age might be "just a number," but our relationships affect more than the present moment and the two lovers. There are practical aspects to sharing our lives that are impacted by age differences in the partners, but are those challenges more important than love? Interracial taboos have all but vanished in most of "polite society," but there is still a stigma attached to some relationships between the older and...

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1011.
Is it Ever OK to Lie to Your Girlfriend?
Nick Slade

Nick Slade

We view it as a cancer, an element from the dark side or a treacherous evil that gnaws away at the trust and decency that binds a couple together. Lying is not something that is considered to be good for a relationship. But is that always the case? Is honesty always the best policy for a happy and functional relationship? I don’t pretend to have the definitive answer, but I will try to render some insight and...

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1012.
Should I Forgive My Boyfriend for Cheating?
Nick Slade

Nick Slade

People are not perfect, and boyfriends are certainly no exception. Of course, you have higher standards for him than you have for anyone else. Some crimes are forgivable and some, perhaps, are not. A person can never "un-cheat," so once it’s done, it’s forever. Who did he cheat with? How many girls? How often? If your whole relationship turned out to be a lie, that would be hard to forgive. Just consider a few...

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1013.
How Do I Know if She is Someone to Have Children With?
Bethany Heinesh

Bethany Heinesh

Having a child is a huge responsibility, one that requires an incredible amount of work, time and energy — not to mention money and patience! Choosing who you want to have a child with is serious business, and you should be very selective in your process to find the right woman for the job. While there are no hard and fast rules to follow when deciding if someone would make a good mother for your child, there are...

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1014.
How to Not Smother Your Boyfriend
Nick Slade

Nick Slade

Pie is a wonderful thing. But there’s a point at which too much of a good thing, especially if it is cloyingly sweet and rich, will make us gag. It’s hard to imagine that even the thing men desire most — being near you — can also bring him to the point of revulsion. It never has to come to that, as long as you understand the basic principles of common courtesy, common sense, trust and boundaries. Don’t be his...

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1015.
The Levels of Commitment That Lead to Love
Nick Slade

Nick Slade

It all begins with a glance, a smile and a conversation. Then it becomes a touch, a kiss and an amazing thrill. Eventually, if we’re lucky, it turns into a bond that gives meaning and purpose to our lives in a way that endures through decades of rearing children and sharing the glad and sad adventures of a lifetime. What is the secret potion that can transform a simple smile into years of satisfying and...

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1016.
Do Opposites Attract?
Bethany Heinesh

Bethany Heinesh

You’ve heard the old saying "opposites attract." Sure they do……if you happen to be a magnet. When it comes to choosing a partner, though, I lean more toward the idea that people do best when they are in the company of like-minded people. This is true in professional environments, school settings and social clubs. Why should romantic relationships be any different? I do believe there is something to be said for...

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1017.
I Wasn’t Ready to Say “I Love You.” How Should I Have Handled it?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: I had been seeing this guy for about a month and neither of us had used the word love. One night when we were talking on the phone, all of a sudden he said out of nowhere “That’s why I love you." That is not the way I would think you would tell someone for the first time that you love them. I was not sure how I felt myself and I was not ready to say it back to him. Nothing was the same after that...

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1018.
How Much Should You Post About Your Relationship?
Lauren Hostert

Lauren Hostert

Like it or not, social media is undeniably here to stay. Be it Facebook or Twitter, most of our relationships are and will continue to be somewhat broadcast into the public spectrum. Sometimes it’s difficult to find an appropriate point to cast a line between utilizing new technologies and maintaining a sense of privacy. Here are a few tips to help you manage your girlfriend and your friends list. 1. Keep friends...

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1019.
How Women Can Balance Social Lives and Relationships
Kara Pound

Kara Pound

Hands down one of the best ways to balance your social life and a relationship is to intermingle the two. This doesn’t mean your boyfriend and your best friend need to hang out 24/7. It just means they should relatively enjoy being around each other — making your life a whole lot easier and less stressful. Instead of having to choose between the two, you’ll have your cake and be able to eat it, too. Include...

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1020.
Is There Such a Thing as Love at First Sight?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Hollywood loves to spin stories of love at first sight. The plotline of every romance story — Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy finds girl again. — is usually fueled by a love-at-first-sight moment. So what is this phenomenon and can it be real? Men are more visually wired than women. Way back in our hunter/gatherer days, youth and beauty signaled health and fertility in women. And women are more wired to...

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Amber Brooks

By: Amber Brooks

Editor-in-Chief

Amber Brooks is the Editor-in-Chief at DatingAdvice.com. When she was growing up, her family teased her for being "boy crazy," but she preferred to think of herself as a budding dating and relationship expert. As an English major at the University of Florida, Amber honed her communication skills to write clearly, knowledgeably, and passionately about a variety of subjects. Now with over 1,800 lifestyle articles to her name, Amber brings her tireless wit and relatable experiences to DatingAdvice.com. She has been quoted by the Washington Times, Cosmopolitan, The New York Post, and AskMen, among others.

See Amber's full bio »

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