My partner of three years and I live together and have a child together; her sister calls her everyday and wants to know every detail in our lives. She wants to know what we ate, where we went, what time we went to sleep, who visited us, what time they left. It's ridiculous.
Her sister is married, yet calls my partner for favours - to pick her up, and take her to places. She's taking time from us being together. But don't you think she should be asking her husband to do all that for her?
I let my partner know that it's straining our relationship.
My partner thinks it's okay that she calls because she's her sister, and they both don't think there's anything wrong with her wanting to know everything.
I want to live a private life with my partner and I can't.
- Out of My Mind!
Snoopy Sis needs to be given some boundaries, and so does your partner if she thinks this kind of constant intrusion is okay.
It's great to have a family network of support, but when relatives persistently interfere with a couple's time together and make comments on everything they're doing (bound to happen if they know too much), their presence becomes harmful to the relationship.
Your partner may've grown up with this intense closeness and the pattern long ago set; and/or, she may be needing more show of interest from you about the small details of her day. Talk to her about this, but not in a confrontational way. Show her you want to be the one to share time and conversation with her.
If you two make your time together more mutually satisfying, she'll be more likely to tell her sister she's busy, when the calls come.
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I became friends with a man who lives across the street, six weeks ago. We've spent pretty much every day together. It became clear to us both and to everyone else that something was blossoming between us.
I kept my guard up because he just got out of a three-year relationship about a month before we met. But, the more time we spent together the closer we became as friends; then I felt I could trust him.
A week ago we became intimate and I felt myself falling even more for him.
In public, he shows me a ton of affection and is wonderful to me but, it's as if the courtship has died. Does that happen so quickly?
Am I setting myself up for a broken heart?
- Lost
That wasn't a courtship, it was a consensual seduction. You fell too soon; real trust can't be assured within such a short time. But now that you've both rushed to a new level of this early relationship, try to regain equal footing on how you want it to develop.
Let him know that being neighbours doesn't mean you're now available for drop-in sex.
Despite the blossoming affection, this is a time for getting to know each other better, and assuring yourselves (especially you!) that this isn't only a rebound situation. Let him know that intimacy is special to you and not to be taken for granted.
Every new romance is a risk, but going too fast usually raises the odds on future disappointment.
Whenever I see this cute guy I get embarrassed with butterflies jumping around. I've had people ask him if he likes me, but all he says is "I don't know."
People tell me that he thinks that I'm always happy, and that he likes that I don't have mood swings. But he doesn't have the courage to talk to me either.
He told my friend that he might give me a chance, but I wonder when.
What does this sound like?
- Love crazy
It sounds like a mutual crush - with both of you charmingly shy and/or awkwardly unable to communicate.
Have some mutual friends invite you two to join them for a group outing, and hopefully you'll both relax when you're with others who can keep the chat going.
But remember, butterflies and embarrassment don't signal love, but rather an attraction, tinged with hope and uncertainty about where it'll lead.
Tip of the day:
When a couple's time is constantly intruded upon, they need to discuss setting boundaries, and why the interference was permitted.