Want to know what your angsty teenage self and your parents have in common with your relationship? They may be more similar than you realize. Here are five ways you’re being disrespectful to your partner without realizing it.
You question everything they do
Like you, your partner is a free-thinking human being who makes decisions. Treat them that way.
You give advice even when it isn’t asked for
Because you don’t trust their judgment, you often insert your opinion even when unprompted. Know that this behavior can get incredibly frustrating to your partner. Learn to be a supporting presence, without acting like you have it all figured out.
You baby them
You cater to their every need, and rarely let them do things without you. Remember that your partner had a life before you came along, and that they are very capable of doing things on their own.
You don’t let them learn things on their own
If your S/O is trying to learn a hobby of yours, like cooking for instance, but you don’t give them space in the kitchen, they will never learn. Letting your partner explore different experiences without you is an important lesson in trust and patience.
But if you do let them, you watch them carefully
Maybe you’ve noticed you have a controlling nature and want to scale back, but only a little. This is progress, but watching your partner with the expectation that they are going to mess up will make them feel horrible about themselves. Try to practice a more lax attitude. Unless it’s a life or death situation, don’t feel like you have to watch them. A mistake is almost never a big deal.
