Not being put first. Or second. Or third…
It’s one thing to make scheduling errors, but it’s another thing for your S/O to consistently cancel plans with you in order to do something they deem “more fun.” Relationships should not feel like an estranged friendship.
Emotional bullying
A little teasing is harmless, but if your partner jokes about things they know will hurt you because they enjoy seeing you mad or upset, speak up. It’s easy to brush off comments, but if you feel pain from them, they are not just jokes to you.
Taking responsibility for their actions
Let’s set the scene: you have to leave for work early in the morning, and your partner stays at your place. Later that day, your roommate is pissed at you for leaving the kitchen a mess, even though it wasn’t your fault. And instead of reminding your partner to clean up from now on, you take the blame and make sure everything is spotless. This is a simple example, but this concept can easily escalate to much bigger issues if you are not careful. Life is hard enough without having to take on someone else’s slip-ups.
Always paying for everything
To be clear, I’m not talking about those who are tight with money. I’m talking about those who have enough, but never even offer to reciprocate. If you pay all the time, and you have a lot of extra money, you may not see this as a problem. Regardless, it’s important to feel like your generosity is not one-sided. It doesn’t even matter how much your partner returns the favor as long as they are trying. (It’s also important to remember that reciprocating generosity doesn’t only include money!)
Your space isn’t respected
If you like having your home set up in a certain way, but your partner blatantly ignores it – or worse, dismisses it as “stupid,” or “crazy,” you should not put up with that. At the end of the day, it is your space that you are choosing to invite your partner into, so your rules should be respected.
