Is it serious?

I am just going to put a big fat disclaimer out there right up front, I am no relationship expert. Let me reword in case that wasn't clear enough; I need advice on relationships, I shouldn't be the one giving it. So, trust at your own risk.

With that being said, it can’t be rocket science right? And with so many dynamics, personalities, and situations, what advice is actually applicable to all relationships? Exactly.

Obviously people who are close to you are nosy, excited, concerned, and just plain blunt when it comes to getting you to dish on your dating life, and the one question that continues to come up is, “Are you serious?.” I literally am at a loss for words every time. It doesn't matter if you have been together a day or a decade, if you are young, it's a daunting question. Your answer is immediately judged. If you say yes, you're automatically stereotyped as the crazy girlfriend who may or may not be a stage 5 clinger. If you say no, then your intentions look sleazy, and it comes across that you probably couldn't care less about him/her.

I think I speak for most girls when I say, of course we think about the future, that's normal. Chances are, he probably does too. The only difference is, you may be thinking ahead a month, and he is just thinking about where you are going to eat that evening. Another thing to keep in mind, who is just waiting for their relationship to end? Hopefully no one, because that is just awful, but honestly, you don’t start things that require time and energy hoping one day it will be over and not in a good way, right? But jeez louise, how the hell am I supposed to know if it’s serious?

Now, I think that this question can be interpreted in a number of ways:

- Do you see it going somewhere?

- Like OMG are you in love?

- Do you think you’ll get married?

- Are you just hooking up or do you actually like him?

But honestly, I think the best way to answer, for both your sake and your significant others’, is just to say in some way or another, “who knows.” Because really, someone asking that question might as well be asking you if it is going to be raining or sunny a year from today? Like HELLO?!, who the hell knows the answer to that.

Take this advice as you wish. It doesn't mean you don't care, it doesn't mean you don’t see a future, it just means that right now, you're in a relationship (hopefully happy), and that you’re taking it one day at a time. The worst happens when you make plans, and circumstantial expectations that GOD FORBID don’t work out. They are probably going to do more harm than good to your relationship.

So next time someone asks if it’s serious, ask them if you should wear rain boots on July 23, 2014.