6 Defining Moments In Every Relationship

It’s a pretty good bet that you have, at some point, saddled up to the bar with a new flame and wondered, “Are we on a date, or are we just ‘grabbing drinks?’” That’s because not only is today’s dating scene exceptionally ambiguous, but it can also last for quite some time. According to Pew Research Center findings released last year, the median age at first marriage is 27 for women and 29 for men, up from 20 and 23, respectively, in 1960. And the extended time spent unwed means we’re dealing with a whole different set of hard-to-navigate moments than our parents did.

What’s more, studies show that those of us born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s have varying definitions of what a relationship is. Friend with benefits? Cool. An open, “let’s see where this goes” thing? Sure. But the questions arise: Are you committed enough to keep a change of weekend clothes and your standby Clinique products at each others’ places? What about extending an invite to be the plus-one at your best friend’s 30th birthday party?

Though there is no one route to happily coupled, knowing how to steer through these six key moments can help things along.