During the first few months of any relationship, it seems like you’re living in an actual fairy tale. Things are romantic, passionate, and basically everything you’ve ever dreamed love would be. Then the honeymoon phase ends and reality sets in.
- You don’t care if he sees you makeup-free and wearing pajamas. You’re finally comfortable enough to let him see you makeup-free, smell your morning breath, and bask in the glory of your pre-shower bedhead. You know he’s attracted to you anyway, and it feels good to finally relax a bit.
- You actually want to spend time apart. You’ve been together nonstop for months, but now it’s time to let your relationship breathe. You’ve built a solid foundation and now you can relax. You were strong enough to not get sick of each other’s nonstop presence, and now you’re finally strong enough for some space and you’re definitely ready to take it.
- You don’t bother telling little white lies. Stuff is getting real real, because finally you can veto each other’s date ideas or takeout preferences. Plus, you feel comfortable giving him the bad news that he needs to invest in an entirely new wardrobe, and he can let you in on the little secret that those six-inch stilettos you bought make you look ridiculous.
- You feel comfortable pointing out your pet peeves. It kind of annoys you when he throws his socks on the floor instead of in the laundry basket, and you hate when he leaves dishes piled up in the sink instead of washing them as he goes along. You’ll tell him that now, whereas before you probably tried to keep it to yourself.
- You don’t freak out about the occasional fight. Playing nice 24/7 is just being fake, anyway, and now you can finally be yourself. You might disagree on something as major as politics or as minor as different preferences on TV shows. At the end of the day, you’re no longer a ‘yes’ woman, and that’s a true blessing in disguise. Couples argue — it’s not the end of the world.
- You let him see your ugly cry. At first, you tried to keep up the happy, upbeat disposition that attracted him to you in the first place, but as your relationship grows, you realize that you don’t have to be “on” 24/7 for him to still care about you. Sometimes you get mad, sad, annoyed, whatever — and it’s totally OK if he sees your ugly crying face.
- You stop having sex like bunnies. The sex isn’t bad. In fact, now that your emotions have finally caught up with your sex drive, it can be a hell of a lot better. That being said, you don’t feel the need to get it on every chance you get. It’s not that you’re bored, it’s just that you’re comfortable and you know that from now on good sex is a regular routine.
- You let your weird out. Every single human being is a weirdo in one way or another. When the honeymoon stage is over, you’re finally ready to put your compatibility to the test and let your freak flag fly. He’s your best friend and you want him to know you better than anyone else — now that wish will finally come true.
