The Internet loves a good ‘Helpful Relationship List’, doesn’t it?
20 Ways to Know That He’s The One. 11 Signs That You Should Marry Her. 18 Questions You Should Ask Him Before Settling Down. 1 Million Things You Should Know As A Single Girl etc etc love etc.
Often these lists feel like they could solve a problem that is specific only to you. “How do they KNOW?” you exclaim, while clicking on the article you are sure is going to change your life.
The problem is, once you get to the Helpful Relationship List That Will Definitely Change Your Life, it’s always so ridiculous and generic and overly lovely that it never feels that helpful after all.
Helpful Relationship Lists are like the Gwyneth Paltrow of the Internet – too much perfection and not enough farts.
So when I recently needed some boyfriend advice, I was forced to make my own list. A list that was real and included no inspo memes about ‘love being like a flower in the desert’.
Here’s my issue:
My boyfriend Dave recently moved in with me, and I made a big deal about turning my home into ‘our’ home.
I moved my bed to the middle of my bedroom like a grown-up, and bought matching bedside tables for both of us. I made (some) space for his clothes in amongst my clothes. I even bought shelves that would fit all of his beloved books, even though I don’t entirely understand why you would need to do that much reading when there’s a perfectly good television in the very same room.