Gaileen Sutton

I’m all about standing your ground for what you think is best for you. I’m all about making decisions for your life and not always yielding to what your partner thinks is best. But regardless of how kick-ass and self-efficient you are about your life, when you make the decision to be in a serious relationship or marriage with another person, there are certain decisions that now have an effect on their lives as well.

Discussing these things with your partner before diving in (or cutting loose, or going crazy, or whatever it is you’re about to do) doesn’t make you weak and co-dependent; it makes you a smart, considerate person who is concerned about the health of their relationship, rather than being completely self-serving.

So in the interest of helping your smarts along, here are six key things you should definitely talk to your sweetie about before diving in;

Babies

Yes, it’s your body, but before you make a decision that will affect your ability to conceive, you should definitely discuss it with your partner. Whether it’s starting or stopping contraception or choosing a more permanent solution like tubal ligation, your partner will has a vested interest that you need to respect.

Leftover food

Why anyone would want to eat three days old Chinese takeout is a mystery, but apparently some do. Guaranteed that the minute you throw it out, they’ll want it. The moral here; if it’s not yours ask the owner before throwing it in the garbage.

Key purchases

Even if you’re stocked like a Rockefeller, it’s usually a good bet to run it by your significant other before making any big buys (cars, houses, boats, etc).

Adopting an animal or a child

Okay, that little puppy you saw at the pet store when you went to buy fish food is cute what with that heart breaking little face and all. I know how tempting that can be. And that last time you were shooting that movie and your partner was looking after the other kids and you saw that orphan that just melted your heart? Also tempting. But resist you must. Adding to your family should only be done with your partner’s okay.

A tattoo

Anywhere on your body that has their name in it. That’s all.

Deleting the Tivo recordings

Thinking that he or she watched the most recent episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm and knowing it are two different things. Do this and you’re on the fast track to World War III.

This post was developed by the writers of the Datepad.com internet dating company where you can read hundreds more professional dating posts.

No matter how wonderful your relationship, everyone goes through phases of “not so great”. No relationship is immune to larger known issues, nor to the small stuff that leaves us out of sorts with each other. The good news? It’s not the end; and it doesn’t mean that things won’t go back to being love dovey.

The bad news? When you’re the one who’s actually in the middle of a malfunctioning twosome, it’s really hard to see that things will get better. When that’s the case, it can be easy to lose your head. I mean, we’re only human. We’re weird animals. And when something that is dear to us, like a love, is threatened, we’ll do some crazy things in the name of saving it.

I understand, I really do, because I’ve been there. If you want proof, keep reading for a sampling of three of the most common mistakes couples make to put their relationship back on track. Oh, and for the record, I didn’t have a baby.

Go for a Baby

Seriously? I have to say this? Apparently, I do. Because people are still doing the whole punching-holes-in-condoms or I-swear-I’m-on-birth-control thing and tricking their significant other into an “accidental” pregnancy. And it’s not just the ladies…men do this too. A thousand shades of wrong, folks.

Privacy invasion

“Maybe if I just sneak a peak at his text messages, it’ll give me some magical insight to what he’s thinking and then everything will work out!” Maybe you’re crazy. Maybe you’re delusional. Maybe you’re breaking laws…and maybe you’re getting broken up with.

Moreover, checking his Facebook account and his other means of communication are guaranteed to freak you out. It’s a lose lose situation. If you find something incriminating you won’t be able to use it in court. If you find nothing then you’re just a sneaky snoop. So don’t even go there.

Set up housekeeping

When the idea of facing your problems becomes a downer (and let’s face it, who looks forward to that), the natural response is often to become physically closer. So the couple will move in together. It’s an illogical, if understandable, response that does nothing to solve the underlying issues in your relationship.

So why not move in together instead?! It gives you an exciting diversion and the thrill and illusory romance of embarking on cohabitation is usually enough to distract the two of you from what was causing problems. But hey! Whisper…those problems? They’ll be back. Only this time, you’re sharing a lease. Good job further complicating things.

This post was developed by the staff of the Datepad.com internet dating company where you can find hundreds more professional dating posts.