Let's Talk Relationships (Page 35)

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:

1021.
Movie Love Quotes: Reliable or Misleading?
Kara Pound

Kara Pound

You know that scene in "Say Anything" when John Cusack stands outside of Ione Skye’s bedroom window, holding up a boombox and blaring Peter Gabriel’s "In Your Eyes"? Well, that brief clip from the classic 1989 romantic film single-handedly ruined love for millions of people. Well, it’s probably not fair to say it "ruined" love, but it gave a lot of people highly unreachable expectations of what love really is. The...

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1022.
How Men Can Overcome Jealousy
Nick Slade

Nick Slade

Jealousy is one of the most destructive forces that can come into play in a relationship, and it is one of the major reasons a woman will choose to dump her guy. A teaspoon of jealousy may demonstrate that you really care for your girl, but any more than that says more about you than it does about her. Getting over your jealous inclinations could be the most important thing you ever do for yourself and your...

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1023.
How Senior Men Can Keep a Long-Distance Relationship Strong
Nick Slade

Nick Slade

At a certain point in life, our emotional needs catch up with and often surpass our physical need to be within an arm’s reach of the woman we love. Although long-distance relationships are not optimal, they can work even more comfortably for senior daters than they do for the younger generation. After all, a few decades ago we were driven by our libidos full time, and no mountain was high enough to keep us from...

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1024.
How Slow is Too Slow to Progress in a Relationship?
Kara Pound

Kara Pound

Things in life that are slow: snails, molasses, an iceberg, the radioactive beta decay of certain isotopes...and sometimes, relationships. In physics, motion is defined as a change in position of an object with respect to time. Now say the object is a relationship, what happens when the motion of the relationship slows down or ceases to move? Is there such a thing as moving too slow — sexually and emotionally —...

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1025.
What Do I Do if I Like Two Guys Who Are Different?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: What can I do if I like two guys? Both are different in their own way. I tried to end the relationship with one of them but he said he loves me. I already cheated on one of my exes in the past, and I don’t want to do the same to my new relationship. I don’t know how to end it. -Chanel (California) Dr. Wendy Walsh's Answer: This is always a tough one. You have two perfectly acceptable boyfriends...

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1026.
If the Sex is Bad, Do I End the Relationship?
Nick Slade

Nick Slade

If the sex sucks but there is a genuine bond of friendship and compassion, keep working on it. When the sexual passion builds on the foundation of friendship, compassion and real caring for the other person, the relationship is almost always stronger than when the heat of passion leads the way and blinds you to the lack of depth in the underlying bond. Great sex is the cement that holds it all together, but it is...

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1027.
How to Date a Widower
Kara Pound

Kara Pound

In the 1930s, University of Pennsylvania sociologist Ray H. Abrams identified a typical time frame in which widowers remarry. It’s an accepted average to this day. Using "Who's Who in America," Abrams compared the date of the first wife's death and the date of the second marriage for 1,300 men. He found the average length of time between marriages was about two and a half years. Of course, this time span...

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1028.
How to Balance Your Girl with Your Social Life
Nick Slade

Nick Slade

Our love relationships add a new and wonderful dimension to our lives. Work and sleep are pretty much set in stone in the schedules of our daily lives, so the only way to make room for romance is by sacrificing a bit of our social and family life. The key to a happy relationship (and a happy man) is to balance our discretionary time in a way that works for everyone. 1. Fit your relationship into your life. Your...

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1029.
How to Get a Bachelor to Settle Down
Nick Slade

Nick Slade

If you want to get a cowboy to retire from the rodeo, you buy him a ranch. If you want to get a chef to retire from the restaurant business, you build him a state-of-the-art kitchen and bring the whole family over for dinner every Sunday. If you want to get a confirmed bachelor to settle down and get married, you offer him a life too good to refuse. There are basically three things that make a man reject the...

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1030.
I Think I Lost Him Forever. Can You Give Me Some Advice?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: I was dating this boy in school who had a few mild mental issues. I was the only person who would stand up for him. We formed a very strong relationship until he moved. I keep cursing myself for never giving him my address/phone number. It's been a year now and I've been trying to get in touch and find him since he left, and I'm sure he's doing the same for me. I don't know why but I started...

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1031.
Can You Communicate Too Much?
Nick Slade

Nick Slade

You can never have too much communication, but you can definitely talk too much. Talk ceases to be communication when the other person stops listening or no longer cares about what you are saying. When it comes to emotional and romantic issues, it’s great to tell your lady how you feel and how much you want to protect her and care for her. But a logical Power Point presentation of your intentions and feelings will...

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1032.
The Benefits of Long-Distance Dating
Lauren Hostert

Lauren Hostert

Long-distance relationships, like mixing liquors and overplucking eyebrows, seem to be something that everyone has voted a bad thing. At the very mention of trans-zip-code love, friends become Dr. Phils and the unsolicited dating advice rolls in like a judgmental tide. Objectively, the hive mind might be right. Navigating the distance can prove tricky, but anchoring your ships in separate harbors doesn't always...

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1033.
I Feel the Spark is Gone. Is He Too Comfortable Already?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: My boyfriend and I have been dating for about three months. He stays at my house all the time when he isn't working, even though I've told him we shouldn't spend so much time together. I feel like the spark is already gone and I don't know how to get it back. Is he too comfortable already? -Lisa C. (Georgia) Dr. Wendy Walsh's Answer: In a word, yes. Three months is such a short time for you...

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1034.
How Gay Men Can Introduce a Date to the Family
Sam Stieler

Sam Stieler

Introducing one of your dates to your family and friends is a big deal, and it is certainly worth getting excited about. After all, it isn’t that common you meet someone you want to actually get to know beyond date number two, let alone someone you want to actually bring around the people you care most about. Introducing a man to your friends and family essentially sends a big signal that you expect and want this...

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1035.
I’m Not Dating Anyone Else. Does He Assume We’re Exclusive?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: I met a guy last year and we've been casual friends (and only friends). We started talking daily and he told me that he hasn't stopped thinking about me since we met. We've been out at least once a week and I've met his parents. He keeps talking about future plans, so I'm not sure when to have "the talk." Does he just assume that we're exclusive? I'm not dating anyone else and to the best of my...

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1036.
Why Men and Women Cheat
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Self-report studies have found that nearly 60 percent of men cheat on their spouses (and that’s just the men with the guts to admit it!) Women cheat too, but far less than men. And most men and women cheat for different reasons. Regardless, these reasons are sometimes unforgivable when trying to repair a relationship tainted by infidelity. But for a fortunate few, such an act of betrayal can be a unique...

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1037.
How Do I Get Him to Pop the Question?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: How do I get him to pop the question? -Christina (Maryland) Dr. Wendy Walsh's Answer: Newsflash ladies! Women can’t GET a man to do anything. He has to come to that decision by himself. But you can affect the things that help him make the decision. If you are giving him a maintenance-free relationship complete with sex and playing-house together, he has absolutely no motivation to get...

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1038.
The 7 Phases of Commitment
Bethany Heinesh

Bethany Heinesh

Just like every other human process, romantic relationships follow a certain chronological course and evolve in complexity. There are various phases of commitment during the progression of a relationship, each identified by certain markers. As with everything else in matters related to the heart, every couple is different. This means there is no definite timeline, no hard and fast rules and no...

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1039.
The Pros and Cons of Living with Your Girlfriend
Bethany Heinesh

Bethany Heinesh

While there are many conservatives who completely disagree with a man and a woman living together before marriage, I am not one of them. I believe living together before marriage is a must as part of the evolution of a relationship. Upon realizing the woman in your life is now nothing more than an annoying and obnoxious roommate, you can walk away from the relationship without the devastation and...

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1040.
When is the Right Time to Get Married?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Fifty years ago, there would be no question of when is the right time to get married. If you were over 18, had met a man and fallen in love, the next customary step would be a walk down the aisle. This was one of the ways to insure regular sex and economic prosperity that comes with combined resources and clear delineation of gender roles. But today, men and women have many options: They can date, cohabit, focus...

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1041.
The Effect of Open Relationships
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

In today’s highly sexualized culture, it seems as though everyone is indulging in lots of sex, with a side order of commitment or not. For some, an open relationship may sound appealing, especially to those who live in fear of divorce. For others, it just seems bizarre. With advanced technology like the Internet, it’s now easier than ever to connect with others interested in an open-relationship lifestyle. But...

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1042.
When to Meet Your Girlfriend’s Parents
Sam Stieler

Sam Stieler

Meeting your girlfriend’s parents marks a momentous milestone in your relationship. Meeting your girlfriend’s parents sends a very clear signal that you take this woman seriously and that, even if you aren’t thinking about marriage right now, you are ready to start feeling like some small part of her family. Not only will forming a relationship with your girlfriend’s parents change how you approach your...

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1043.
How the Economy is Affecting Our Sex Lives
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

On face value, the ailing economy and your personal sex life may have little to do with each other. But research shows that money and love are indeed, familiar bedfellows. One study by researchers at the University of Kansas reveals that when times are tough, men seek more sexual partners. Our current economic recession has some men lingering for more sex and the researchers suggest that this dates back to our...

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1044.
Do Long-Distance Relationships Ever Work Out?
Kara Pound

Kara Pound

Long-distance relationships are becoming more common these days. There's even a name for it, LDR couples, as well as websites dedicated to those in a long-distance relationship. Lovingfromadistance.com is one such site. It offers advice, activities for LDR couples to do, merchandise and even free printable stationery. Back in the days of the Pony Express, I would be a lot less inclined to say that long-distance...

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1045.
What You Should Know Before Sleeping with Him
Nick Slade

Nick Slade

Prying into a man’s personal life can be a risky adventure. Sensitive information is simply on a need-to-know basis. Well, if you are getting close to the point of becoming sexually active with your new man, there are some things you need to know. What questions are fair game, and which are out of bounds? And how can you bring up the subject without seeming like you can’t wait to get into his pants? The time to...

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1046.
11 Phrases Women Love to Hear
Bethany Heinesh

Bethany Heinesh

When it comes to dating a woman, conversation rules the nation. This is because most of the value a woman places on a relationship —romantic or otherwise — is based on her ability to exchange thoughts and ideas with that person. While love letters and poems are fantastic and very effective (don’t get me wrong, we love them), nothing will ever take the place of hearing you speak the words we long to hear. If you...

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1047.
How to Know the Difference Between Love and Lust
Bethany Heinesh

Bethany Heinesh

The truth is, women often have a difficult time distinguishing between love and lust. It’s no wonder because both are very powerful emotions basic to the human experience, shared by people from all cultures, socioeconomic standards and educational backgrounds. Each experience, in and of itself, creates intense feelings of euphoria, ecstasy and elation. Love and lust are powerful motivators, central aspects of any...

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1048.
How to Date a Widow
Sam Stieler

Sam Stieler

The prospect of dating can feel difficult and intimidating enough on its own, which is why many men feel reluctant to establish relationships with women who hold on to anything that can be loosely defined as "baggage." Yet the older you get, and the older the women you date get, the more likely you’re going to end up meeting a woman you like very much who has nonetheless lived through some experiences that may...

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1049.
Am I Wasting My Time, or Am I Expecting Too Much Too Soon?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: I've been dating this guy for about three months now. I think I made the mistake of sleeping with him after just one month because we really hit it off. Ever since then, he has started to pull away. Sometimes I try to pull away and be busy, which works with him, but it may only last less than a week. I've realized I've also been acting "needy" by questioning him about things, such as not...

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1050.
When Should You Have Sex?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

It’s probably the hardest decision a woman can make. To have sex or not with a man she is attracted to. Feminists who use a male model of sexuality to define women’s sexual freedom might say, "If he’s hot and you use protection, who cares if he’s playing you. You can play him, too!" But there are two big catches to this plan. Most women have trouble separating sex from love and most men still put women in one of...

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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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