See your partner as an ally, not adversary: what I learned about modern relationships from writing the Intimate Details seriesAfter trawling through 1,000-plus reader responses on fidelity, finances and family, Doosie Morris has made some critical findings on what makes a romance stick – and most of us are terrible at them Romantic relationships have a lot to answer for –… May 11 24May 11, 2024Article at The Guardian
‘I don’t even dream about sex … I don’t miss it at all’: readers on why they chose celibacyInner peace, clarity of mind and for some, better orgasms. Readers share their experiences of swearing off sex, whether temporarily or long term Over the last few years more than 120 million posts have appeared on TikTok about the rise of an… May 04 24May 04, 2024Article at The Guardian
‘We chose not to blow up our life’: readers on surviving infidelity The sexual wanderings of a partner don’t always spell the end. Readers share their experiences of how their relationship came out the other side What counts as infidelity varies from couple to couple and how they choose to handle it is also unique. A… Apr 26 24April 26, 2024Article at The Guardian
‘Not being jerks to each other helps’: readers on staying friends with an exA breakup doesn’t always mean the end of the road. Readers share their experiences on transitioning from romantic to platonic relationships A scorched-earth policy after a breakup might seem like the quickest option for some. But for others, it’s… Apr 05 24April 05, 2024Article at The Guardian
‘We have spent about $5,000 – it has been incredible’: readers on going to couples counsellingIt isn’t always easy, and desired outcomes are not guaranteed. Readers tell us what happened when they sought professional help as a couple It takes a village to raise a child, as the saying goes, but when it comes to our romantic relationships, some… Mar 29 24March 29, 2024Article at The Guardian
Talk it out or walk it off: readers’ tips for stopping a relationship squabbleFrom using non-verbal signals to having a ‘no petulance’ rule, readers share their hot tips for keeping their cool While differences in perspective can be good for any relationship, when a disagreement escalates into words that can’t be unsaid, no… Mar 22 24March 22, 2024Article at The Guardian
Love, logistics and fresh beginnings: readers on the reasons they remarriedFrom wanting to honour a new love with the same public commitment, to avoiding visa and estate issues, readers tell us why they chose to say ‘I do’, again Once upon a time, a misstep down the aisle was a life sentence. But since no-fault divorce laws… Mar 15 24March 15, 2024Article at The Guardian
‘Fight the system, not your partner’: Guardian Australia readers on handling household pay gapsThe last few decades have seen dramatic changes to the way Australian couples handle the family purse strings. These days the idea of two people living on a single income doesn’t just feel old fashioned – for many households, it would break the bank.… Mar 02 24March 02, 2024Article at The Guardian
‘You can make mistakes and come out better’: readers on emotional affairsWhen it comes to playing away, every couple draws the lines differently. For some, even if things don’t get physical, developing an emotional intimacy outside the relationship can feel treacherous. For some readers, a friendship that went too far… Feb 16 24February 16, 2024Article at The Guardian
‘It was time to start afresh’: readers on love in an empty nestAfter years in the trenches together raising a family, couples whose children have flown the coop face a very different looking future. Like all major life transitions it can be a fraught time, especially for relationships. It even has its own… Feb 09 24February 09, 2024Article at The Guardian
‘Humans are messy’: readers share their experiences with ethical non-monogamyEthical non-monogamy (ENM) isn’t for everyone. From the 271 readers who wrote in to share their experiences, this was the most popular piece of advice. There is not a lot of reliable data about how commonplace non-monogamy is, but if features from… Jan 26 24January 26, 2024Article at The Guardian
‘If you both hate a chore, do it together’: readers on dividing household labourFrom 50/50 splits to prioritising fairness over equality, readers share how the division of domestic labour works in their households – and when it doesn’t Ideas about who should do what to keep a home clean and functional differ across generations… Jan 19 24January 19, 2024Article at The Guardian
‘You’re better off single than in a bad relationship’: lessons in love readers learned from their parentsNothing has a stronger influence on children than the unlived lives of their parents, at least according to various quotes attributed to Carl Jung. While that maxim may hold some water, when it comes to love, it’s often the romantic lives our parents… Jan 12 24January 12, 2024Article at The Guardian
‘We have not had sex since the dog came into our lives’: when pets affect human relationshipsWhile humans have kept domesticated animals for tens of thousands of years, there’s no evidence that anyone was ever driven out of a cave to make room for a pampered pup. But these days the connections we, and our partners, have with pets can make or… Jan 05 24January 05, 2024Article at The Guardian
‘I’m still single and the happiest I’ve ever been’: life after dating appsSince Tinder launched 11 years ago, countless intrepid users have found true romance, but many are choosing to swipe left on what feels like an increasingly onerous and unfulfilling crapshoot. There’s a simmering sense that the once novel,… Dec 22 23December 22, 2023Article at The Guardian
Communicate, negotiate and set a ‘kiss alarm’: bringing the spark back in long-term relationshipsAs the butterflies that once filled your stomach give way to chats about pantry moths, keeping the flames of desire alight can become a challenge. While all the readers who shared their stories of reigniting the romance had different strategies when… Dec 15 23December 15, 2023Article at The Guardian
