8 Things We All Miss About Being Single
Of course we all love being in a relationship. We have all been searching for the right person and maybe that person already came into our life to fulfill our wish. Now life should be totally blissful, right? There are probably going to be moments when you wistfully remember what it was like to be single. As happy as you are in your relationship, there are likely things you miss about your single life too. Learn what you or the other might be pining for and how you can deal with it. If you can both be a little more accommodating in these areas it will ultimately strengthen your couple.
Harmless flirting
Before being in a relationship, both of you had grown accustomed to flirting with, say, the guy or girl behind the counter at the coffee shop every morning, the coworker two cubicles down and the single members in your social circles. Now you want to be conscious of every time the other bats their eyelashes or tosses their hair. You both may occasionally slip up - it's only human -- but instead of acting jealous, cut each other some slack. Flirting is usually harmless and once in a while it's okay to let it slide.
If the other constantly flirts with other people in front of you and is inconsiderate of your feelings, then you've got a genuine complaint. But if it's only about being charming, give each other a little room for some harmless flirting.
Your healthy diet
You probably don't think much of his greasy food and beer diet, but there's a good chance it's not your usual meal plan. Many women find that when they enter a relationship, certain aspects of their lives must adapt to accommodate a man's presence, including what they eat. As a general rule, guys are not as conscious of healthy eating as women are and chances are, you miss a time when the fridge contained fresh vegetables.
It wouldn't kill him to try to eat a little better or try some new foods. Plus, cooking together can be a lot of fun and help you feel closer as a couple.
Time to yourself
It's not that you don't like spending every waking minute with your partner, but before he walked into your life, you probably had a lot more time on your hands and some of it was spent by yourself. As a single girl, you may have bemoaned this alone time, wishing you had someone special to share it with, but now that you're attached, you may start to realize how valuable a little "me time" can be.
Giving each other a little time to yourselves isn't hard, and being apart every now and then will make both of you more appreciative of your time together.
Unplanned time with your friends
A woman's best girlfriends are hugely important in her life. They've been there through horrible breakups, exciting celebrations, excruciating losses, and thrilling highs. When you were single, you were able to get together with them whenever and wherever you pleased, and it is these spontaneous get-togethers that may be missing now that you're one-half of a couple.
Make sure both of you are willing to compromise when, say, your girls need your attention and he'll also feel free to go out with his buddies.
Not cleaning up after him
It may be a cliché, but in most cases it's true that guys exhibit less-than-stellar housekeeping practices. You may be fondly remembering a time before his dirty socks were strewn across the bedroom floor and his dishes were piled up in the sink for days at a time. After all, you are not a parent, but a partner-slight change in the order of the letters here.
As nice as it is to help out with cleaning, don't let the other depend on that help. Let the other pick up their own socks, do their dishes and you'll both reap the rewards in your relationship by avoiding tension.
Not being an emotional crutch
When you're in a relationship, you're the automatic go-to person when your partner is in crisis. The responsibility of helping you with work problems, family issues or other troubles can be trying at times when they're the first, and sometimes only, one you go to in need. When you were single, you were accustomed to only having to shoulder your own issues, and adding to that is a lot to carry.
When it seems like an overwhelming time for the other, try to lean on the other people in your life -- your friends, siblings, parents -- instead of doubling the emotional burden.
Answering only to yourself
As a single woman, the only person you had to answer to was yourself. Now, you have to consider another's opinion and feelings before making any major decisions. You may also miss being able to choose what color to paint the living room without having to consider what the other thinks, but now that she's with you, your thoughts are just as important as hers when it comes to things that affect you both.
In the case of serious life choices such as deciding whether to take a new job offer across the country, your partner should naturally be involved in the decision-making process, unless it's a choice they're not really interested in being involved in.
Relationships are nice too
Sure, there are some aspects of being single that are pretty appealing, but nothing beats a fun, supportive, fulfilling relationship. Remember that it's important for both of you to maintain your independence and have lives apart from each other, or you may soon find that the person she has changed into is not the wonderful one you first fell in love with.
