E.g You are being abused and they are telling you how bad your partner is and how you should leave them, setting up schemes for you two to break up, etc. Even though they are trying to be a good friend, YOU should make the decisions in your relationship and not have a friend take matters into their own hands.

Ok, so back to the point. How can you keep friends from ruining your relationship? There are actually several ways that you can accomplish this. Here are some of the things you can do if you don’t want any of your friends ruining or interfering with your relationship.

1. Don’t Tell All

Gossiping is natural among friends. You tell each other secrets and share problems you may be going through with your friends. This could be a good thing because you can get a second opinion or get support.

However, telling all your business in regards to your relationship is not a wise thing to do even if you are telling it to your best friends. Some things should be left between the couple.

If your friend gets mad at you, they may start talking junk about your relationship or reveal some of the stuff you shared with them to your partner. They could use it against you to take your man. It sounds crazy but it does happen.

You run off and tell your friend how bad they are treating you and your friend tells you to just dump him. You take their advice and the next thing you know, your friend is with your ex.

This example probably doesn’t happen often but know that sharing too much information with your friends can come back to bite you in the butt. So, don’t tell all or only share what you feel can be shared without doing your relationship any damage.

2. Set Boundaries

Simply put, let your friends know what they are allowed to do and say when it comes to your relationship.

If you don’t want them giving you advice on your relationship, don’t let them. If you don’t want them acting too friendly with your man or woman, let them know. If you think they are prying too much, put them in their place.

When it comes to your relationship and friends, setting some boundaries can help.

3. Ignore The Bad Advice

Sometimes you can have a friend who is naughty. They know you are in a relationship but they don’t care. They will try to get you to talk to someone else, go clubbing and meet new people, give you bad relationship advice, and all other things that are not good when you are in a relationship.

Ignore the bad advice and don’t fall for it. Your friends may try to tempt you to do something that could damage your relationship. Resist the temptation and know when you are being given bad advice.

4. Know Which Friends to Confide In

If you have a problem and you want to talk about it or get advice from one of your friends, know which one of them to confide in. You don’t want to talk to a friend who always thinks negative, gossips too much, or one that doesn’t like who you are going with.

You would want to talk with a friend who is level headed, unbiased, and can keep stuff to themselves. After being friends with people for some time, you will know who are the friends to go to with your relationship problems, etc.

5. Make Sure You Have Good Friends

I know you have heard of stories that go like this: “My best friend stole my man!” It happens unfortunately. All I will say is to choose your friends wisely. Know who to bring around your partner and who not to.

It does take two to tango so it can’t be all on one person. However, if you have a friend that is just bad news, flirtatious, and just seems like they can’t really be trusted, don’t have them anywhere near your relationship or don’t have them as a friend at all.

True friends aren’t backstabbers or people that seduces or takes a partner away from their friends. Just make sure you have loyal and trustworthy friends who you can count on and won’t betray you.

Hopefully you can tell when you have a good friend and one that is up to no good. There are cases where people just didn’t see it coming when their partner got with their friend.

Click Here to Visit Our Forum

I will be on the forum everyday and respond to anyone needing some advice on any matters regarding love and relationships (marriage too). Since the forum is pretty new, I would like to give something to anyone who decides to join.

After you have joined the forum and made at least one post, send me (admin) a private message through the forum so that I can send you a free ebook entitled 101 Romantice Ideas.

This ebook is great for those needing new ideas to add some romance in their relationship. Even if you don’t really need it at the moment, it can come in handy in the future and it doesn’t cost anything to get it.

So, check out the forum and join if you want to be a part of a great community that helps each other when going through relationship disasters.

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It Can & Does

In a sense, age does contribute to a relationship being successful or not. Now, don’t get me wrong. Age is just one of the many factors out there that may influence how a relationship works and it is by no means a single factor that will determine if a relationship will work.

There are several couples out there that have a wide gap of 5-20+ years apart from each other and are going strong with their relationships. My mom and dad is one example. They have been married for a while now and there is a 9 year age difference between them.

Even with that being said, there are a lot more couples out there that have broken up because of reasons which can contribute to age like maturity and life experiences. These are actually the main two things that really break down relationships where there is an age difference.

Have You Seen This Couple

Take the couple off of the Bad Girls Club for example. This girl was young in her late teens or early twenties and she was messing around with a guy that looked 30 years her senior.

If you watched how they were on the show, you saw how she wanted to party and mingle and not really want to commit fully.

The guy looked like he was married before, a lot more mature, and had a lot of life’s experiences which she lacked and wanted for herself before really getting into a full blown intimate and real relationship with the guy.

Well, it’s been a while since that season and I’m not sure how they worked out but this is a good example of age difference in relationships and how things could be for other couples in similar situations.

What it Really Comes Down To

So, it seems that age really does matter to a certain extent. Different views, maturity levels, interests, life experiences, goals, and baggage all relate to age in a way and can affect a relationship in a negative way even though the relationship didn’t intend on being affected this way initially.

So, what if you are already in a relationship where there is an age difference and you are afraid things won’t work out due to age? What if you are interested in someone that is a bit younger or older than you but you are not sure if you want to make it into the real thing?

If you are already in a relationship where there is a big age difference and everything is going fine, you don’t have anything to worry about unless you are a teenager and the other person is fully grown or borderline elderly. Yeah, this is rare but it does happen. When it does, it is often a crime – unless you are 18 or older (Depends on where you live). In any case, in these types of situations, the relationship can’t really work.

If things are kinda rocky, you and your partner may need to evaluate your relationship and life goals and see if they coincide with each other in terms of each persons views of things. Can you both get through the issues you are facing despite the age difference or is it really the main culprit of your issues?

If you are interested in someone older or younger, take the time to get to know the person and their views on life and other things before you jump into a relationship with them.

Make sure that you both feel comfortable with each other even in public. Just get to know them as best as you can and lay everything out on the table as far as needs, wants, dislikes, goals, baggage, etc if you are really serious about this person and think you want to give it a go.

Tips For Couples In Relationships With a Big Age Gap

Despite age being the main focus of this article, couples are couples and age is only one factor that can have an impact whether positive or negative on relationships. If you know what makes a relationship work and bring those things to the table in any of your relationships with anyone and they do the same thing, there is a good chance that things will go smoothly with occasional ups and downs since no relationship is going to be perfect.

If you are happy and they are happy, then you can put that age thing behind you. Just make sure that there isn’t too much of a huge age gap. I personally do not condone relationships that are made of teens (19 and under) and overly grown people (30+). Also, these types of relationships just don’t work out and cause a lot of trouble including legal ones.

Here are few other helpful tips for those in relationships where there is a big age difference. Keep in mind that the age difference nowadays that is considered the norm is 3-5 years. So, “big” is usually anything after 5 years.

• Make sure that you are completely truthful when it comes to telling your partner about future goals
• Be prepared for the how people will react to the huge age gap (family, friends, society) Be Strong!
• Be prepared to deal with sex related issues and find ways to make things work if sexual issues arise (Because they do especially when there is an age gap)
• Try to find common interests or hobbies that you both can share with each other
• Only enter or proceed with the relationship if you both truly love and care for each other and not for other reasons (wrong reasons – money, etc)
• Get new “positive” buddies. If your current friends think your relationship is gross or do not agree with it, make new ones that cheer you on or are simply positive minded.
• Accept that you are in a relationship where there is an age gap as well as the differences that come along with the relationship due to the age of your partner. Compromise and try to make things work.
• Talk with other couples that are similar to you or get inspiration from couples that are doing well despite their age differences. Celebrity couples are a good example.
• Be Strong! I said it earlier and I will say it again. Be strong and try to be as positive as you can be about the relationship especially if things are going well. Society or people close to you may judge you or look down on you but if you are happy, that is what matters.

Let’s face it, dating isn’t easy. Of course this doesn’t mean it’s not fun, exhilarating and exciting at times, but when you are making a first impression on someone, there’s a lot of pressure involved.

While the most common advice implored by well-being friends is often “just be yourself,” it’s really not easy to be the person your friends and family know and love when you are on the romantic chopping block.

Yes, I realize this may seem a bit harsh but on a first date you have a limited amount of time to make that first impression. Sometimes it’s easier to know what not to do on a date than to brainstorm what you should do.

Here are 5 simple first date faux pas that you will want to avoid at all costs.

1. Fidgeting and appearing nervous

Yes, this is difficult because inside you probably ARE nervous but confidence is what appeals to both men and women. The old ‘fake it ‘till you make it’ adage works here. If you seem uncomfortable your date will be too. Remember to smile, keep eye contact and realize that your date is likely nervous too. Of course this advice comes with one large disclaimer – confidence is sexy, cockiness is not.

2. Excessive talking or not talking at all

It’s a nervous habit for many people to want to fill any uncomfortable silence but really this just makes the moment even more uncomfortable. It’s normal for even terrific dates to hit a slight lull where neither of you will be speaking but these moments are natural and can even be a good thing, allowing for a brief smile or flirty eye contact.

On the other side of the fence, clamming up can be uncomfortable for your date. Try and balance the conversation as much as possible so one party is not dominating the other. If you feel yourself growing quiet, make sure to ask questions and learn more about your date. It will not only make him/her feel good but will provide you an opportunity to really get to know one another.

3. Bringing up ex-loves

Everyone has a history, that goes without saying, but bringing up past loves gone wrong on the first date is a massive turn off. You may mean well or think it may somehow fit nicely into the conversation but nothing is worse than hearing someone’s sob story when you are interested in pursuing them. Of course after you have a history of dating this person it can be healthy to discuss your relationship pasts to an extent but there is no need to rush this conversation and certainly no room for it on the first date.

4. Laying out “baggage”

EVERYONE has “baggage,” or an event/trauma/breakthrough that has influenced them in some shape or form. While this is normal and can actually show real strength in character when discussing how you overcame these obstacles, this is another conversation that can be had at a more appropriate time. Keep things light, fun and go from there.

5. Going home together

If the date goes well it may be tempting to throw an impromptu sleepover but really DON’T. I think everyone has probably experienced that exciting surge of connection during a date that leads most of us searching for an even deeper connection (often a physical one), however getting intimate right off the bat can be a real game changer. There is something to be said for having an air of mystery about you and when you hop into bed with your date too soon, the mystery is gone and the fragile beginnings of the relationship can be torn to shreds.

Everyone proceeds to this next step in their relationship at their own pace but across the board, first night hooking up is an indicator of problems to follow. In the words of the famous and often quoted Shakespearean play Romeo and Juliet, “these violent delights have violent ends.” Just take it nice and easy, you’ll be glad you did!

If you can avoid making these common mistakes on the first date, perhaps you will finally fine the man/woman of your dreams and then the stress of first dates will be a thing of the past!

Emily Murray is a regular writer for KwikMed, the company which has been appointed by Watson Pharmaceuticals as the exclusive online distributor of the newest morning after pill called ella. Previously she had a relationship column based on her own dating disasters and momentary triumphs.

Maybe you’ve considered breaking up with your partner, or maybe you’ve just started to notice that things between the two of you aren’t like they used to be, and you’re both arguing and fighting a lot more over seemingly trivial things.

One of the biggest hurdles you’re going to face right at this very point is getting over the hurt and pain that you may be feeling to actually start doing something about fixing your relationship before things get any worse!

Identify the Problem(s)

Chances are you already know some of the issues that are ruining your relationship, but if you want to learn how to fix a broken relationship you need to be willing to sit back and think hard about the problems that you and your partner are facing.

Maybe you haven’t been appreciating your partner enough or maybe one of you cheated on the other? Perhaps you hurt your partner in some way?

Whatever the reason – identifying your problems as quickly as possible will help you start to move forward and possibly even solve them!

Make an Effort

Remember this: The only person that you can change is yourself. No matter how much you want to, you can’t change your partner or make them figure out how to fix a broken relationship.

This is something that is up to you and you alone to start, regardless of how receptive your partner is initially.

Although changing the past is impossible, now that you’ve identified the problems in your relationship you should be able to take the first steps towards dealing with the situation.

Try to put more into the relationship if you can. Start by showing respect towards your partner, especially if in the past you found that it was one of the first things to go out the window when the two of you started arguing.

In due time, you should be able to even start showing the love and affection that you once did!

Moving On Through Forgiveness

Because both you and your partner have hurt each other – if you really do intend to figure out how to fix a broken relationship you’re going to need to learn how to forgive them for whatever they may have done to you.

If you aren’t able to do this, you’ll find that all the old grudges and pent up pain begins to fester sooner or later, and that could kill off your relationship completely.

At this stage, you shouldn’t heap expectations on your partner. While it would be nice if they forgave you for what you’ve done too – it doesn’t work that way. Just as it took you time to process and come to this realization, it is going to take them time too!

Reopening the Lines of Communication

The hardest part of learning how to fix a broken relationship is this: Starting to communicate again.

Most couples that have been going through troubled times end up facing a total breakdown in communication. It isn’t just that people generally don’t communicate well when they’re hurt or angry, but in a broken relationship it is also the fact that your partner probably doesn’t trust you enough to have an open conversation about your mutual relationship.

Hopefully now that you’ve taken it upon yourself to put in extra effort and forgive your partner, the two of you will have the catalyst you need to reopen the lines of communication.

Do not let this talk collapse into an argument. Remember to always be respectful and never judgmental. This is not about laying blame, but rather it is about fixing your relationship and mending the fences.

Both of you will undoubtedly have your own perceptions and opinions about what went wrong, and it is only by sitting down and actually talking about it that you can hope to figure out how to fix a broken relationship fully.

But with a little bit of luck, if you commit to following these steps you should be able to honestly say that your relationship problems are a thing of the past!

But is that even possible? Although it might seem like a long shot, you’d be surprised how many people get back together with their exes. At some point or other you and your partner did share something, so it could be as simple as reminding them what that was to reignite the flames.

Click Here to Check Out Magic of Making Up For a Thorough Guide on How to Get Your Ex Back & Build a Healthier, Happier Relationship!!!

Reasons Behind the Break Up

Before you start thinking about how to get back with your ex though, it is probably a good idea for you to think about whether or not you should! When all is said and done, the two of you broke up for a reason, so what was it?

Was your partner too controlling for your tastes? Did they cheat on you? Were they abusive?

In some situations, getting back with your ex might not be such a good idea. But if the reasons were more trivial, such as a simple inability to compromise, not being ready for a relationship, and so on – then it might be on the cards.

Remember Who You Were and Remind Your Partner

One of the first rules of learning how to get back with your ex is to remember who you were. For many, the end of a relationship is a brick wall and an emotional rollercoaster that leaves most everyone much worse off.

If you want to get back with your ex, you’re going to need to once again be the person they fell in love with, and start showing your former partner as much- although not just yet!

Don’t cry, beg, or do anything else (such as drunken dialing) that might make your ex feel that you’re just a pathetic shadow of the person you once were. Instead, you should exude confidence – knowing that there was once a time when you drove your partner absolutely wild.

By laughing, smiling and constantly remaining positive, you could dredge up some shared happy memories along with the emotions that come hand in hand with them.

Make sure you have cleared up any lingering emotions from the break up and have gotten yourself together before actually following through with this step which is actually a part of the next.

Making a Move

Sooner or later, you’re going to want to make a move to see if what you’ve learned on how to get back with your ex is really working or not.

When you do reach this point, it is important that you tread carefully. Start by inviting your ex out for something non-committal that could just as easily be a meeting between friends as it could be a first date.

Also be sure that you don’t get too serious right off the bat. Look at this as a new relationship, and focus on having fun and showing your ex a good time.

If things fall into place, there will be more than enough time for the both of you to sit down and have serious discussions later on.

Of course, there are some other ways that you can learn how to get back with your ex. The method I recommend most is using the Magic of Making Up guide which goes into the exact steps to take to get your ex back.

It is very thourough in all the steps and it provides extra advice on what to do, when to do it, how to do it, how to rebuild your relationship once you are together again, and much more.

Who knows, in a matter of weeks you two could be back together and in a much happier relationship than ever before!

If you’ve started to notice that there is a lack of either affection or sex in your relationship, or that there has been for some time, you are right to be worried. Very often, this is the first step down a long and slippery slope!

What Leads to a Lack of Affection and Sex

Understanding why there isn’t enough affection and sex in your relationship as well as the problems that it causes is the first step towards handling the issue.

Generally, the traditional view is that women require more affection in terms of being kissed, touched, and made to feel loved. On the other hand, men require sex to feel the same type of emotions.

While this isn’t true in all cases (i.e. there are situations where some women require more regular sex or some men need other forms of affection) the bottom line is that both affection and sex are required in a relationship – even if one or the other isn’t that important to you personally.

And one of the biggest causes of a lack of affection and sex is complacency.

Simply put, after being married or together for a certain period of time – some couples just stop putting in the effort that they used to. How it begins is really irrelevant, but what most couples find is that it is a vicious cycle.

When a man stops showing his partner the affection that she needs, she stops feeling the emotional desire for sex. That in turn can lead to the man showing even less affection, until it reaches the point where there is very little or no overt affection shown, and sex is nonexistent or a ritualistic affair.

Putting the Spice Back into a Sexual Relationship

Once you’ve noticed that your relationship is missing that spark that affection and regular sex gives it, and now that you understand what has probably happened, the first step to reigniting things between you and your partner is to sit down and talk it out.

Maybe your partner hasn’t noticed that something is wrong, or maybe they have but are simply uncomfortable bringing it up.

Sitting down and laying things out plainly will definitely help though. For starters, it will provide an opportunity for both you and your partner to discuss your needs in terms of affection and sex, and suggest what each other can do to cater to those needs.

Make no mistake, you are probably both going to have to compromise and take into account what you’re both going through!

Remember what things were like when the two of your first started your relationship? Try to be just as playful and reciprocal as you two undoubtedly were back then. Affection and sex shouldn’t be forced, or part of the ‘business’ of a relationship. It should be a way that you communicate your feelings – non-verbally!

Don’t be afraid to try new things as you and your partner attempt to get your relationship back on track. Sometimes, spicing up your sex life by fulfilling each other’s fantasies is a great way to jumpstart the sexual side of your partnership.

Just as much as the lack of affection and sex probably stemmed from a vicious cycle, fixing it works the exact same way too! Once you begin to put either the sex or affection back into a relationship, you’ll find that your partner is more inclined to reciprocate in turn!

Every relationship has its ups and downs, but if both you and your partner make the attempt to fulfill the needs of each other, you’ll find that your relationship emerges a lot stronger as a result.

Despite how taboo a subject affection and sex is often viewed to be – this is one area that could make or break any relationship. Knowing how to deal with it could make all the difference.

Be Sure About Your Decision

Before you start to think about how to break up with someone you love, ask yourself this: How sure are you that this is what you want?

Whatever the reasons why you feel you need to break up, the fact is that you still have feelings for your partner – so you need to be sure that it can’t work before you go down this road. Otherwise, you might end up waffling over the decision, and that is bad for both parties in the long run!

If you are unsure about your decision on breaking up, I highly recommend you check out Should You Stay or Should You Go which is a book that will give you all the insight you need on making the decision to remain in a relationship or leave it. It also includes a lot more advice and tips that you will find very helpful as well.

Talk it Out

When you do sit down and talk to your partner about breaking up – don’t blame them, or yourself.

Be calm and clear as you firmly state why you are certain that the relationship isn’t going to work. Chances are your partner may react angrily or even just break down, and you need to be prepared to deal with that too and talk it out.

Remember, by this point you should be sure that you need to break up – so don’t falter!

Give it Time

One of the best secrets of how to break up with someone you love is to give it time. After the break up there is bound to be hurt on both their side and yours – and the both of you will need time to heal.

Try not to put yourself in a situation where you run the risk of second guessing your decision. Depending on how your talk went, you might even want to steer clear of each other for a while so that things can tide over.

It may take time before your feelings for each other subside, but it will happen eventually.

This is exactly how to break up with someone you love. Make no mistake, the process itself is not going to be easy, and there will be times when you may even regret that it ever happened.

Just remember why you’re breaking up and the reasons why you feel that your relationship couldn’t work despite the love that you felt for your partner and that should give you the strength to soldier through it all.

There are many ways to jumpstart intimacy and get your partner all hot and bothered, and you’re going to find out a few of the best ones right now!

Roleplaying – Mild and Heavy!

Have you and your partner tried roleplaying in the past? This is one way you could learn how to spice up your sex life that works in many cases!

Do you have a specific fantasy that you’ve always wanted to try out? Does your partner have one too? It might be something as simple as dressing up in costume and getting into character (i.e. fireman, French maid, and policeman or policewoman) or it could even be an entire scenario!

If you’re not up for something too heavy, here’s one form of roleplaying that could work wonders: Pretend the two of you just met.

Many couples who are in a bit of a slump have often become quite complacent when it comes to taking care of each others sexual needs. Pretending that the two of you just met could help turn back the clock and make you remember what things used to be like!

Get Into New Sexual Positions

Things can get pretty boring in the bedroom if you keep doing the same thing over and over again, which is why it is important that you mix things up every so often.

Learning how to spice up your sex life is all about trying new things – so start with the basics and try new positions! Honestly, you should be doing this already, but if for some reason you aren’t you need to get out there and start learning now.

There are various books and other sex manuals such as 500 Lovemaking Tips that could give you a ton of new ideas that you could start putting to good use almost immediately. By keeping things fresh, new, and exciting, your sex life could get kicked into overdrive!

Experimentation with Sexual Toys

Even if neither of you have ever been much into experimentation with toys – it’s never too late to start!

Getting a sexual toy could be just what you need to reignite your sex life. Very often, the mystique of trying out something new for the very first time might even be enough.

Of course, if you want to get more involved, you could even try things like S&M gadgets, couples sex toys, or any other fetishes that you or your partner may have!

Heck you could even use stuff around your house to ignite your sex life. Just check out Sex All Around The House which gives away all of the secrets on using household items to spice up sex.

Just make sure that the two of you are comfortable with whatever you’re experimenting with beforehand and set clear limits if necessary.

If you want to start off slow, why not try some mild bondage with furry handcuffs!

Teasing and Foreplay Goes a Long Way

Although men are generally said to not be big on foreplay – this isn’t exactly true. Just ask any man how much of a turn on it is when their partner teases them with a slightly exposure here and there and you’ll see how powerful this could be.

On the other hand, women are definitely fans of foreplay and taking the right steps could get any woman going.

Chances are that both you and your partner already tease each other here and there and have some form of foreplay before sex. The trick to knowing how to spice up your sex life is being able to introduce new elements into what has probably become mundane and ‘routine’ by this point in time.

Buying lingerie can be a good place to start. Also, teasing each other in public areas where the risk of being ‘discovered’ could heighten the excitement might be a nice touch.

If In Doubt, Ask!

Sometimes the best way to liven up a couple’s sex life is to simply sit down and start talking about what the both of you could do. If you feel that the sexual part of your relationship has taken a hit, your partner has probably noticed it too – so why beat around the bush?

Figuring out how to spice up your sex life would help the two of you in more ways than one. After all, when all is said and done – a healthy sex life definitely contributes to a healthy relationship!

Knowing how to move on after a break up could help you start anew a lot sooner though!

*Remove Reminders of Your Former Partner

Over the course of your relationship you’ve probably accumulated several reminders of your former significant other such as pictures, gifts, and so on. Put these all away someplace that you aren’t going to come across them.

For now, the last thing you need is to be reminded of your former relationship.

*Avoid Contact

While you’re trying to figure out how to move on after a break up, avoid contacting your ex. At times you might feel like you want to talk to them or maybe even work things out, but if you’re trying to move on this is honestly counterproductive.

Always remind yourself to steer clear of your ex, and definitely don’t do something that you’ll regret – like drunk-dialing or texting!

*Distract Yourself

One of the worst things that you can do during this period is to mope over your ex and the relationship you shared. Instead – distract yourself!

Find other fun things to do, try taking up new hobbies, or even just immerse yourself in your work. Whenever you’re filling your time by doing stuff, that is time that you’re not using to obsess about your break up.

*Get Support From Friends and Family

If you find that you need help trying to work your way through this turbulent time – get support from your friends and family. Mutual friends of your ex might not be ideal people to turn to, but your own friends and family could definitely prove to be much needed pillars of support.

*Take Your Time

As much as you might like to think that there are surefire secrets on how to move on after a break up – there aren’t. Be prepared for the fact that it will take time before your wounds heal and you can completely move on.

So long as you follow these steps, you’ll find that you’re going to move on with your life sooner or later. It isn’t going to be easy, but you will find that one day you wake up and everything seems to have gone back to normal.

Everyone needs to figure out how to move on after a break up at some point or other – and it is an experience that you’ll undoubtedly learn from.