What Nobody Tells You About Being In A Relationship

Being in a relationship is one of those things that, unless you have experienced, you cannot imagine being in. Clearly a lot of people will have some level of experience with this ("going out" with someone for a week at the age of thirteen does not count), yet you'd be surprised at the amount of people who have never been with one person for more than a drunken shift and a text the following day, to check that they're still alive and kicking. So for those in the know and those in the forever alone status, here are the things that nobody tells you about being in a relationship.

14) You will send an obscene amount of texts to your girlfriend/ boyfriend.

Texting to the single person, is a boring and infrequent part of life. When you enter relationship status, this quickly becomes a necessity, especially at the beginning. You can gain a lot of insight into a person through their text habits. How quickly they respond, their use of emojis and most important of all, their grammar. Grammar is key.

13) You'll find that your attention span is much longer than you originally thought.

Until you find someone that you actually enjoy spending day after day with, the thought of being with the one person, terrifies you somewhat. You imagine growing bored after two weeks and being alone five-ever. I assure you, when you come across someone that's right for you, this will not be the case.

12) Some of the best relationships happen with someone you would never have thought was your type.

See that absolute babe across the room? Reckon they're the one for you? They ain't. Nine times out of ten, you're going to fall for someone that isn't your stereotypical ideal. As cheesy as it may sound, personality and a sense of humour are waaaaay more important than the model perfect features you once lusted after.

11) Getting along with every single one of their friends is difficult.

As long as you get along with the majority, you're good to go. There's always going to be at least one that hates you or vice versa (or both.) Whether you're male or female, the girls are always the hardest to win round. Try a few times, but if you aren't getting anywhere, quit while you're ahead and retain your moral pride. Just remember, bitches be crazy.

10) You'll be their drunk minder at least once.

When you're with someone for a while, there is, under no uncertain terms, any way of avoiding the fact that one or probably both of you will get horrendously drunk and require the other to take care of you. If they bring you home after a few too many cheeky swigs from your naggin, hold back your hair and put you to bed, they're a keeper.

9) Meeting the parents never gets any less awkward.

Meeting the parents is the ultimate test. If tests could speak and ask you awkward questions about your life and where it's going and tell you that you MUST sleep in a different room. There will be no pre-marital action in their house. Oh no sir. It's like being on stage, in that you're holding back everything that makes you normal. No cursing, no banter, no fun.

8) You'll be surprised at how quickly you become comfortable  in their company.

When you think back to the first few dates that you shared with someone and how skin crawlingly awkward that they were, it's mind twisting to think that, not too far down the road, you'll be letting in all hang out in front of them, not a care in the world. When you're three months into it and you're sitting there watching a film wearing what can only be classified as "hangover clothes" and eating your body weight in Dominoes, you'll understand what being comfortably close is.

7) Sometimes you hate them more than most people hate Adolf Hitler.

Love is the opposite to hate and hate is what you experience when you're having a fight about something trivial and ridiculous because you're tired and want to take it out on them. There are some fleeting moments when you think that you'd happily serve time for causing grievous bodily harm to them. It'll pass, hopefully...

6) But most days you love them more than Prince Harry loves a good fancy dress party.

If you, like me, are a love cynic, you won't believe all of the rumours about how being in love is the best feeling in the world. I always thought that the best feeling in the world was not having to set an alarm for the morning. When you actually realise you love someone, no alarm can ever again compare. A sad day for clocks everywhere.

5) You'll compromise more than you thought you ever would.

When you're single, you play by your rules and your rules only. It's your way or the high way. You can never imagine having to sit through a rom com or a robot war film, but you'll quickly realise that you must give a little, in order to receive a little, in any relationship. What goes around...

4) You'll learn that opposites really do attract.

Yes, having something in common initially helps to create conversation, but over time you'll see that liking the same music and studying similar fields in college, does not a lasting relationship create. Having similar morals and outlooks on life are far more important. So he's a sporty mathematician who loves rock and you're a techno loving artist? Must be love.

3) Time really does fly when you're having fun.

Everyone knows that couple who've been together for 9 years. Or so. Now, to the single person, a month of being with the same person seems like forever but honestly, when you're with someone right, months can pass by in a flash and suddenly, it's a year. As the saying goes...

2) Grooming at an obsessive level quickly takes a backseat.

When you first get together, grooming is an Olympic level task that must be completed before every date with a military precision. If so much as a hair appears out of place/ in a place it shouldn't be, it'll spell doom, it'll be the end. Fast forward into that comfortable territory and BAM, six day facial stubble, some sexy leg fuzz and not a care in the world.

1) Commitment is easier than you've ever imagined.

Back in the good old teenage days, I could barely commit to an hour and a half of a film, never mind a relationship. Commitment is the one word that can make a grown commitment phobe, shake in their socks. The thoughts of being and staying with the one person for an unforeseeable period of time, can reduce the sanest person to fear sweats. Fear not. When you meet your match, this won't be an issue. You'll won't even think twice about committing, it will not be an issue. You'll just roll with it.