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The first date couldn’t have gone better. While the plan was to have just one drink, it turned into an elaborate dinner that only ended when the last customers left the building. The second date was even more fun than the first, and soon the third, fourth and fifth dates followed. Now that you’ve seen each other a few times, you’re probably wondering when it’s no longer a date… but a relationship.
The unclear border
From dating to a relationship; when is it dating and when is it a relationship? The transition from “just” dating to a full-fledged relationship is a puzzle for many. That is why it is not wrong to think about it. The boundary between the two phases consists of a fine line that is different in every situation. How do you go from dating and regularly meeting up to do something fun to a serious relationship ? Do you have to ask for it like we used to ask someone to be your girlfriend?
In most cases, it happens naturally and there is nothing to think about. You like someone while going out, meet up more often to get to know each other and before you know it, you are in a long-term relationship. The line between dating and a relationship is vague. It often develops naturally without you realizing it. In other cases, it is not so clear. This can be due to you, the other person or both.
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Emotional bond
Once you’ve had your first few dates, you get to know each other better. It’s a mystery at first, but you gradually learn more and more. The emotional bond grows as you see each other more often. Your life story is something you tell during the progression of the relationship, not when there’s no bond yet. That’s also why you shouldn’t immediately put everything on the table during the first few dates. You don’t tell what’s in the gift when the other person is about to unwrap it, do you?
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7 Signs Menopause Is Approaching
Of course, it is nice if you never have to talk about it. “Are we in a relationship?” is a bit of an odd question when you ask the other person. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to get that far and you can also just pay attention to the signs that menopause is approaching. After all, it doesn’t have to be spoken out to determine whether you are already in a relationship or not.
1. There is exclusivity
The biggest indication of a relationship is exclusivity. If you assume that the other person will no longer meet others and you do not do this yourself, then you are dating exclusively. There is no room for others. Now this does not immediately mean that you are in a relationship. Many singles want to date exclusively and also assume that it is exclusive. However, exclusivity is the first step you take from dating to a relationship.
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2. Unplanned time together
If you see each other without making arrangements first, this is an important sign that you are already in a relationship. If the other person “standardly” drives to your house after work to eat together, then you know that things are going well. You no longer need to discuss being together in advance, it is meant to be.
3. Leaving things at someone else’s house
The moment you leave your underwear and other things at the other person’s place, this is a sign that a relationship is within sight. You only do this when you are sure that you will see the other person. During dating, this is often unclear, but not when you are in a relationship.
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4. Paying the bill
In the beginning, it is not strange to wonder who will pay the bill for the date . However, if you have already been on a few dates and are moving into the relationship phase, it is often clear in advance who will pay the bill. In a relationship, you can discuss this in advance.
5. The long term
If you make plans for the future, like a vacation in six months, then you know it is already a relationship or almost. It doesn’t even have to be something major. It can also be an appointment to go to a concert together or a sporting event but also a family party on the other side of the country.
6. The first disagreement
When you have your first words with each other, but there is no breakup in any way, then you know it is a relationship. It shows that the relationship is something to work on. A disagreement happens in every relationship. If it does not lead to a breakup, then it is too valuable to give up.
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7. Meeting the friends and family
Meeting your friends or family is a big step. It means that the other person is confident enough about you that even their parents are allowed to meet you . You are a keeper. When someone invites you to meet their friends, they are asking you to enter a personal part of their life.
Being in a relationship doesn’t just mean that you are important to the other person, it also means that you become part of their life. For many people, meeting their friends or parents means that you are the new boyfriend or girlfriend. If you survive this step, you are set.
The transition from dating to a relationship can be difficult for some people to handle. Some people become nervous or insecure as the connection increases. Not wanting to commit and being afraid of it is common. Have you discussed the idea of a relationship and suddenly notice that the person is acting differently? Give them some space to think about it. The last thing you want to do is pressure someone into the relationship.
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