8 Signs You Need To Have The Relationship Talk

The concept of dating continues to evolve on a daily basis. There was a time when saying you liked someone or claimed them as yours would instantly imply that you’re in a relationship. If only it were that easy in this day and age.

These days, both men and women want to keep their options open. Everyone is perpetually expecting the person who will complete them. On the other hand, those who aren’t so idealistic and steeped with romanticism are waiting for a person that they can stand being with for the rest of their lives.

When they arrive at a point where a soul mate still hasn’t visited the local pub, they settle for the next best thing – the next person who comes around. What happens next is that people get stuck in relationships that don’t make them happy.

# When they’ve met your friends or family

This does not mean the awkward encounter with your roommate the morning after. You need to set up a legitimate meeting with your date and your friends in order for them to get to know each other better. By allowing other people in on your situation, you are establishing that you are ready to tell people that you are seeing each other.

# When someone else asks you out

Because there hasn’t been a relationship talk, you and your partner are free to date other people. Don’t adhere to the assumption that because you dated that one time, you are automatically together. People get hurt because of this, especially when the other person has always assumed that relationship talks are needed in order to determine exclusivity.

# When you’ve slept together

One night stands don’t count, so don’t start asking whether you’re boyfriend and girlfriend after sleeping with a person on the first date. If you took your time in getting to know the person, and decided the time was right to sleep with them, you need to tell them that you need to have the relationship talk. Sex is a big deal for most people and it’s nothing to be ashamed of.

# When you start to care

Everybody starts to care more about the person they’re seeing at some point. You have to learn to distinguish the difference between human compassion and undeniable affection. When you start to feel warm and fuzzy inside, then you can make the jump to relationship territory.

# When you get pregnant or get someone pregnant

This needed to be on the list for obvious reasons, but some will say that it’s either unnecessary or very necessary. My point is that people have different views on the idea of getting a person pregnant.

Some cultures require you to get married immediately, while many opt for the safest route – discussing the future. This includes deciding whether you care enough about each other to continue the relationship, while still contemplating the mechanics of the unplanned conception.

# When the skeletons in the closet are revealed

There are different kinds of secrets that can make or break a relationship. Before you meet the love of your life, it’s understandable that they might have gone through some pretty serious stuff. It’s your prerogative to decide whether a relationship is still on the table, when you realize the heavy ramifications of a person’s past. This could be a drug problem, a traumatic event, a wedding ceremony in Vegas during college or something else that is hard to divulge on a first date.

# When you see or feel that the person you’re seeing is not making an effort

If this were an uncomplicated situation, you could decide here and now that a person that’s not making an effort isn’t worth the wait. Still, you should ask the person you’re dating whether they have any plans of pursuing this endeavor. Who knows? They might just be a bit shy or still confused about what they want out of the two of you.