There’s nothing more exciting than the six-month mark of a relationship. It’s because you know your partner just well enough to know they have potential, but there’s still a lot more you can figure out. You aren’t bored yet — you just know you have a good thing going if you’ve been steady for half a year. And while your significant other may have met your parents by now, they probably haven’t met your crazy aunts and questionable cousins just yet.
So, adventure awaits.
By now, you’ve probably grown tired of the “how we met” story, especially if it doesn’t go much farther than “Tinder.” Still, the day of your first date is fresh in your mind. You weren’t too sure about them at the time, but it’s good you trusted your instincts to give them a second chance, since they very well may be the one. But, let’s get honest here — both of you still have your love blinders on, and there are a few milestones you have yet to pass within this early stage.
Here are just a few of the things that happen within the first six months of a relationship — and only within the first six months of a relationship.
1. You haven’t gone to the bathroom in their house yet.
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Okay, so — you’ve gone to the bathroom, you just haven’t “gone” to the bathroom yet.
While it’s something that’s totally natural, it’s still a step you may be extremely uncomfortable with. Just remember that no guy or girl will actually judge you for it. At least, no good guy or girl. And based on the way things are going, you’re likely dealing with a winner.
2. You haven’t had a real fight yet.
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In the first six months, you have a lot of patience.
Tiny quirks are just that — quirks. They’re not flaws that happen to irritate you just yet. Sometimes fights can be healthy, so don’t get scared when a big one happens in month seven. It doesn’t mean you’re doomed — it means you’re normal, and the “new relationship” bubble you’re in is just naturally fading.
3. In your eyes, your partner is weirdly flawless.
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This is because, in the first three months of a relationship, your partner is on his or her absolute best behavior.
The following three, they’re trying hard not to show any cracks. But nobody is perfect. Once they feel secure in the relationship, you’ll start to notice little things popping up that you might not have noticed before. But before that happens, you’ll be parading your significant other around like they’re made of solid gold.
4. Most of your dates have been outside of the house.
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The option of “let’s just stay in and watch TV” hasn’t come up yet.
Since you have a ton of energy within the first six months of a relationship, you want to use it to go out and be seen. You don’t want to miss an opportunity where people might see you having fun with your new partner. Plus, when you’re with someone new, literally everything seems exciting. Even a stop at McDonald’s can be a thrill if you’ve never done it with your partner before.
5. You’ve expanded your personal clothing budget.
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You’ve been getting busy more often, so your undies have been completely revamped — goodbye, old cotton boyshorts from three years ago!
You might have also purchased some new lingerie to impress your new significant other. Aside from intimates, your closet has also gone through an overhaul. That’s due to feeling like you always want to impress your new guy or girl, along with a sense of confidence you’ve gotten from the relationship. Simply put, you feel like a new you.
6. You always wear perfume.
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Within the first few months of a new relationship, you start to get a little paranoid about tiny things that might set your partner off.
Smell is a big one. Suddenly you’ll find yourself brushing your teeth more and making sure you never leave the house without dabbing on your favorite scent. You might even get romantic with it, and spray a tiny bit on their pillow, so they think of you during nights you don’t stay over.
7. You’ve stopped responding to group texts.
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It’s a bad thing to abandon friends at the start of a new relationship, but… sometimes, it happens.
And maybe the break is good, since the only topic on your mind is your new relationship. If your other friends happen to be single, hearing about how happy you are can be a little tiresome after awhile. But, they understand. Things will recover (if you put the time in and maybe switch up subjects) and everything will be back to normal soon — probably when your significant other stops becoming a headline of your day and just starts becoming a natural part of your routine.
8. You try to form a lasting bond with their friends.
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It might never happen, and that’s okay.
But since your partner likes them so much, you have this feeling that they should be part of your life, too. And it seems so important to get everyone’s approval. Just make sure you don’t overdo it. Much like the relationship itself, the best connections happen naturally.
9. As happy as you are, you’re also constantly on the lookout for a blindside.
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At six months, you know someone — but you don’t know someone.
They’ve been a bit quiet about why their last relationship ended, so you’re left wondering if they’re going to drop some big bomb on you now that they know you’re comfortable. Is he cheating on someone with you? Has he been married before? Does he have five kids he’s secretly supporting? Or, maybe he’s severely in debt. Who knows? Now is the time to have a few serious talks to help ease your mind a little bit. Trust me, by the time you reach that year mark, you’ll both be open books.
10. You actually talk on the phone with your significant other.
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Most of your chats happen through text, but you still make a point to call each other, since you miss hearing his or her voice.
Aww. Young love is very sweet. In comparison, it’s been months since you got on the phone with your BFF. Or your sister. Or anyone other than your partner and your mom, since she misses you so darn much. During these calls, you typically give each other a rundown of what happened that day and gush about how the daily catch-up will be so much easier if and when you decide to cohabitate. (And by that point, you’ll be more comfortable using the bathroom around them. Hopefully.)