Relationships Week 2022: Milestones
The traditional relationship milestones, while completely valid for those who want them, no longer suit everyone - so it’s time we started celebrating new ones too.
Engagement. Wedding. House. Kids. They're the events we've used to measure the success of our intimate relationships for generations. But times are changing. More and more people are choosing to live child-free. Home ownership is unattainable to so many of us. And a wedding is now just one of the many ways of showing your commitment. And what about the importance of relationships with our friends, families and colleagues?
In Relationships Week 2022, we celebrated our own milestone of launching our refreshed brand, and recognised the new milestones that matter to many of us. Whether it's deciding to be child-free, finding our chosen family, recognising the anniversary of our oldest friendships or appreciating the support we give to our neighbours - we can relate.
Here's some of the content we shared during the week...
Explore...
‘Milestone anxiety’ on the rise among millennials and Gen Z
The traditional looms large but Brits want different life milestones to be recognised
Consensual non-monogamy
Research carried out in 2013 showed that about 5% of relationships are openly non-monogamous. It’s likely that this figure may have grown since then.
Deciding if you want to try for kids or not
A resource to help couples decide whether they want to try and have children or choose a child-free life instead.
Relationship audit
The relationship audit toolkit is an interactive, comprehensive resource offering various exercises to help users evaluate, understand, and strengthen their personal and professional relationships.
How to support your child in exploring their gender identity
This blog was authored by Rosel Jackson Stern, a journalist and artist whose work primarily covers culture, politics and art.
Are you ready to have a second child?
If you're struggling to figure out whether you're ready for another child, here are some things to think about to help you make the decision.
Caring for your parents and your kids at the same time.
Sandwich caring, where you care for both your children and a parent at the same time, is a situation that many people find themselves in but have not usually planned for.
Preparing to be parents
Becoming a parent is, in many ways, a radical change to your identity. You and your partner go from being a couple to a family.
How to build rituals with your chosen family
When our birth families don’t accept us for different reasons, our chosen family are the people who step into their place: the friends and mentors who make us feel at home.
Open letter to the new Prime Minister
Our Chief Executive, Aidan Jones, has penned an open letter to Liz Truss outlining our priorities for the new government.
How to celebrate milestones in long-distance relationships
Remember when we used to think online relationships weren’t real? Or that meeting someone on the internet was cause for concern? Me neither.
Discover what turns you on
In some ways, it can feel like knowing what ‘turns you on’ should be easy. After all, you’re the person in your own body - shouldn’t it just come naturally?
Tips for separated parents at Christmas
We all have dates which mean a lot to us – birthdays, holidays, Christmas, Eid etc. Often these dates will have been family-based celebrations.
Talking about money in your relationship
Money can have a huge impact on our relationships.
Figuring out who you are
You’d have thought it would be easy to figure out who you are. After all, you spend no less than 100% of your time in your own head.
Helping your teenager find a job
If your teenager has decided it’s time for their first job you may wonder how you can support the process. The job market is tough, but you can help them as they go out into the world of work.
How to get over a friendship breakup
It’s fair to say that all breakups, no matter their nature, are painful to some extent. You might be mourning the relationship, who you were in it or what it cost to get out of it.
Coming out
For many LGBTQI+ people, coming out can be a big part of accepting their identity. And while people are generally more accepting than ever when it comes to different romantic orientations and
Setting boundaries in the workplace
It’s great to love your job but your job won’t always love you back. It won’t go to your favourite restaurants with you, hold you when you need a good cry or surprise book a vacation for you.
Adapting to retirement
Learning to spend time together when one or both of you stops working is very important.
Love in the workplace
Office romances offer a unique opportunity to get to know someone on a deeper level, but it's important to navigate these relationships carefully.