Keeping the magic alive in a relationship can be difficult – especially if you have a demanding job or a whole crowd of friends who expect you to spend time with them as well.
The work-beer-girlfriend balance can often get complicated – and whereas a beer that goes off can be remedied, a girlfriend going off is something else.
Keep the passion going with some tips to help let your girlfriend know that, like Meatloaf, you would do anything for love – but not that.
- Girlfriends like to feel they are your first priority – this may seem a little princessy (after all, your best mate doesn’t expect flowers), but go along with it if you want a quiet life. If you are on a tight budget, remind her money can’t buy you love – but the odd box of chocolates and making a cup of tea will.
- Every girl is different, but watch out for smooth moves other blokes make which seem to impress the ladies and follow suit – hold doors open, catch them before they hit the floor when they are drunk and tell them they look nice. Girls love it.
- Don’t talk about other girls to a girl – not your ex, not her friend, not the other girls in the room. Even if you are being critical, the girl you are talking to may think you are secretly covering up the fact you are interested in the girl you are talking about. Never mention other girls to a girl.
- Avoid discussing her work colleagues, friends, relatives or female neighbours – even if you agree with your girlfriend, there is a chance what you say may be interpreted as sticking up for the other girls. If your girl is complaining about other females, the best thing to do is be supportive, put your arm round her and say “Here, come here” and give her a sympathetic cuddle.
- Do housework – dust, vacuum, cook, wash up, and most importantly don’t forget to take out the bin. If you can manage it, put the loo seat down, squeeze the toothpaste from the bottom of the tube and do not snore.
- Know what she likes – knowing how many sugars she takes in her tea (you will be making plenty of that), her favourite flowers, wine, holiday resort and puddings are all important to your own wellbeing.
- Flatter her – tell your girlfriend she looks nice, she smells nice, her cooking is great and your boss thinks she’s great will make your life together happy and peaceful (unless she goes off with your boss).
- Be sympathetic to women’s problems – your girlfriend would ideally like to marry a gynaecologist, but if you can’t manage that, painkillers, tea, sympathy and chocolate (and a hot water bottle for her tum) will do nicely. If you could put the supper on as well, that would be brill.
- Let her cry – many men cannot cope with tears, but the best men grab a hanky, gather up their girl in their arms, and offer comfort and support. Do not try and turn this into an opportunity for anything else, however, or you will stand accused of “only wanting One Thing”.
Good luck.
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When your attempts to keep a relationship alive fails and you have decided to approach the subject of divorce, seek the advice of a family law solicitor beforehand so you know your facts and where you stand.
