My partner wants his mom to vacation with us. I like her, I can tolerate her but I have no interest in travelling with her. We booked our vacation time at our jobs six months ago and she was never mentioned then. All of a sudden she's being brought up in the last couple of weeks. I don't know if she asked to come along or if she was invited. I'm totally not into her coming with us. What's the way out of this?
I like everything about my partner... except his teeth. Not only does he have giant gums (think "horse teeth") his bottom row is all out of alignment. It's not something I noticed right away because our first few hangouts were on video chat and then we were out doing things when we first met so we weren't exactly face to face talking. Once we did settle down for a cuddle night I was looking and once I noticed it I couldn't stop looking at his teeth. And I think he caught me because he was talking less after and wasn't moving his mouth as much when he talked. What do I do now?
My partner is starting to wear nail polish and it's a turnoff. I really can't get over it. It might seem minor but I associate that with women and I'm not attracted to women or femininity. I'm a guy who's attracted to guys. Nail polish, purses and all that woman stuff doesn't fly with me. Do I put my foot down and draw the line or just see where it goes with him?
I'm in a new relationship and it's been going great for a few weeks. The dates have been casual (walking the dog, going for evening drives, etc.). We just had dinner together for the first time and I'm kind of annoyed. I can't stand how he eats. He chews with his mouth open and chews loudly. He also goes "ahhhhh" after he has sips of drinks. Do I say something early on or just deal with it? I like him otherwise and I don't want to come into this relationship telling him to start changing things. But it really annoys me. A big part of relationships is having meals together so I don't think this is something I can avoid in the future. What do I do?
My partner joked that we should take a lie-detector test just to see what it's like. It seems like he might have an ulterior motive. I'm wondering if on the surface it's meant to be something silly just to see if we could "beat it" and get away with lies but I think he's fishing. Maybe he doesn't believe my past or the current state of our relationship. What is the line of questioning? If we do it, should we agree on the questions beforehand? My partner is different like that, frequently having off-the-wall ideas so it doesn't surprise me he would come up with something like this. This one just seems weird and he's mentioned it a few times already.
My partner wants us to go to a nude beach. I've noticed he's getting more and more comfortable walking around the house in little (or no) clothing. It's not that he's embracing a nudist lifestyle I think he just enjoys the freedom of not wearing clothes. It's one thing to do it in the privacy of our own home but to do it in public is new. It's only him who's walking around the house undressed, I'm not participating. I have no issue with him doing it in the house. He's wanting to take it to the next level now and show off in public. I'm certain I wouldn't strip down on a beach no matter how much "everyone is doing it" pressure might be put on me. I'm just not sure about other people seeing my partner naked. You don't know who has a camera out there and will be capturing shots and whatever they might be doing with them. What should I do?
My partner insists on mixing our groups of friends and I prefer keeping them separate. For instance (I'm making up these names): I'm friends with John and Mary, and he's friends with Bob and Susan. He wants us to get together as a group of six and do dinner or a night out somewhere. I have nothing against Bob and Susan but I just don't feel like mixing our friends. I feel like it'll be awkward because I have inside jokes and stories with them that the others wouldn't understand or find funny. They're just two different couples. It's not that I feel like they won't get along I just want my friends to be my friends and his friends to be his friends. What should I do?
My partner loves music and is a diehard concert-goer. I'm concerned about the money he's spending on concert tickets. It's not that he goes to the concert it's that he goes for the most expensive seating areas and says it's the full experience. He won't go for cheaper tickets at the back because you don't enjoy the concert the same. And depending on who the concert is, he might even travel to go see it or buy a bunch of souvenirs. So between that and the cost of tickets, he's spending so much. I'd rather he be saving money for our future (house buying to get out of our apartment, etc.).
I find that I don't want to go to parties or social events with groups of friends because I don't want to end up in everyone's social media posts. As I scroll social media this summer, I see everyone's pool parties or beach days and all the unsuspecting people in the background. It's not that I'm up to no good but I just don't need everyone seeing where I am on the weekends. There should be designated phone and no-phone zones at these events. I don't want to be in the background of your photos while I'm shoveling my face with a plate of food behind you. Why are people inconsiderate about others' privacy? I feel like I am headed for a life of being anti-social.
My partner lost his job and has been actively looking for work. (It was a layoff, it wasn't his fault.) It seems like he can't land a role in his field of expertise. I'm telling him he should just apply for anything in the short term because income is income and he needs to start pulling his weight. It's not for lack of trying it just seems like he's stubborn and feels that taking any other job is beneath him. Should I ease up? Am I being unreasonable?
When I came into work on Monday, the HR person brought around the new people who were just hired to give them a tour of the building and introduce them to everyone. One of them is my ex. We didn't give any indication that we knew each other but obviously we're going to cross paths around the office. He hurt me badly by cheating and then after the break up tried turning people against me. I'm sort of worried his immaturity will spread to this professional environment. I've worked here for years so people know who I am and what I'm about. Should I let people know the deal so that if something does start happening they will have been aware?
My partner gets too into sports at events and acts like a goon. It's one thing to cheer for your team but now he heckles the opposing team's fans and I'm worried it'll escalate if he razzes the wrong person. What should I do?
My partner has always had a bit of a crude sense of humor. Lately with all of the events happening in the country (deportations, racism, civil unrest, politics, etc.) he's making comments that are perhaps crossing the line with certain people. He's not being racist per se but if you don't know his personality or how he jokes, it could definitely be taken the wrong way. I think some people are starting to get bad vibes from him. How should this be addressed?
My partner tries to impress people with useless pieces of knowledge (remember Cliff on Cheers?). He's not doing it to be funny but people think he's trying to be and it makes for awkward moments. He's being serious but they don't know how to take it and start laughing. They're essentially laughing at him. He's genuinely trying to share his knowledge but it does come across as a know-it-all or even sarcastic sometimes. I know him so I know what he's trying to do. They don't so it's weird. Any advice?
I stayed at a bed and breakfast a few years ago and the owners (a couple) were super nice. I was traveling alone for work so they kept me company and checked in on me, even had me over for meals sometimes. We actually bonded. It almost seemed like a friendship. On my Facebook memories it's showing me that visit from four years ago. I thought it would be nice to send the couple a message (they're somewhat older but their property is still online) to say hi and tell them how I still remember that trip fondly. I've emailed twice and never heard back. My first instinct is they were just nice for the sake of doing business and don't actually care about me. Then I thought something happened to them (illness, death, etc.) but see they're still pictured on their website. How should I feel about this? I feel ghosted.
My co-worker has the most obnoxious-smelling lunches and always eats at her desk. Most of us are annoyed by it. How do we get her to eat somewhere that's better ventilated so we don't have to gag every day?
I'm one of the growing office workers who can't stand being copied on emails that don't pertain to me. It's fine if it's an FYI to something that might affect my work at some point. But there are people in the office who copy so many people on messages to make them aware -- but then also don't explain why we're being added, so it's always unclear if something is expected of us or what the real reason is. I'm tempted to write back something like "Why am I getting this?" but it might come across dickish. Do I just ignore them or say something to prevent more clogging of my inbox?
There are so many people I call or text and wish happy birthday to (one is my cousin) and I don't hear back. I don't just post something on their Facebook page when it reminds me it's their birthday. I actually know when it is and I reach out. I've drifted apart from some of the people but there hasn't been anything bad that's happened between us to consider it a troubled relationship. We just don't talk as often as we did. Do I stop calling and sending texts? It seems like they're unappreciative. It's one thing to respond to every comment on a Facebook page but to get a personal call or text I feel is a bit more special. I actually call and leave my cousin voice mail. I don't hear back from her. Surely these people have time to respond with "thanks!" Thoughts?
My partner is a Disney fanatic and wants to go there every chance he gets. It's too juvenile for me. I don't mind amusement rides but I can't handle pretending to be in some fairy tale land with thousands of kids on leashes and their miserable parents. I can't exactly lie and say I have other plans since we live together and he knows my schedule. How do I ditch Disney?
My partner is losing his patience with customer service people. He starts out understanding but as soon as he doesn't get an answer he likes or believes he's getting the runaround, his mood drastically changes. When I'm standing beside him in a store or seated across from him at a restaurant, it's embarrassing because I feel bad for the employee subjected to his wrath. I'm tempted to step in but fear he'll get louder and turn on me and everybody will know there's an issue. How do we get this under control?
My partner had a discussion with his co-worker about how she and her husband have a tracker app on their phones. They essentially let you see where your partner (partner's phone) is at all times. They say it's so that if one of them doesn't hear from the other or there's an emergency, they'll know where they are. Or, just to have an idea how far from home one is while the other is cooking dinner and wants to have it ready. I think that's all BS. It seems like a nosy and controlling way to monitor your partner. It seems like a distrust kind of thing. Nothing has ever happened that either of us is concerned about where the other is and why and for how long. All of a sudden my partner is proposing this. I've said no but he keeps bringing it up.
I've worked from home since the pandemic. It's been great. I don't miss going into the office every day. I've been spending a ton of time with my dog and we're closer than ever. But we're in a busy time at work and I feel guilty working from home with him trying to get my attention like he'd always had before. He follows me around and thinks we're going to play or work but really I'm just going into the other room to get something for a meeting. I'm thinking I should go back to the office a few hours a day just to get away from him so he's not so clingy all the time. What should I do?
I hired a couple to do my yardwork. I saw their ad online and gave them a call. The first chat was great. The woman asked a lot of questions, I told her what I needed done. She said to give a quote for their services she'd come take a look at my yard and let me know. Perfect. She said it would be that afternoon and she'd text me after. Afternoon went. Evening went. All of a sudden my dog started growling at 9:30 p.m. and out the front window I saw two people on my sidewalk. I assumed that was them and I'd get a text. There was no text. It wasn't until the next afternoon that she sent me the quote for the job. I responded within an hour and asked when they're available. She didn't respond until the next day and said it would be Monday in the late afternoon. (So from surveying, to quote, to availability we're going on three days already.) I asked what time would work and never got a reply. All of a sudden on Monday at 8:45 p.m. I heard lawnmowers and equipment outside my window. They…
My partner is too emotional... but not in the way most people would think. We've been together through one sports season. Let me explain why that matters. We started dating at the beginning of the hockey season last year. I don't care much for sports but he's into it so I went along because I had nothing better to do. He's that fan who's decked out in team gear and standing up throughout the game and screaming at the players and high-fiving people when there's a goal. That's not the embarrassing part. (Maybe it kind of is but everyone else is doing it so it's acceptable.) I saw a new side of him when his favorite team was in the playoffs. When they lost a game, he was genuinely pissed on the way home. Like, pissed to the point of grumbling and barely talking to me. I almost felt like saying, "Are you mad at me? What did I do?" and make him get out of the car and walk to his house since I was driving. When his team got into the finals he was thrilled. He was maybe too happy. And when…
