As time passes, your relationship with your partner can shift in a variety of ways. We generally refer to the biggest changes in a relationship as milestones. You’ve probably heard about the traditional relationship milestones before in this common expression: first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage.
These are important milestones for many relationships, but not all relationships lead to marriage or children. Some unmarried couples plan to spend the rest of their lives together, and many couples are childfree either by choice or circumstance. There are also many smaller milestones that this colloquialism neglects to address—like your first date, buying your first place together and yearly anniversaries.
Celebrating milestones with your partner is a marvelous way to strengthen your bond and reminisce about old times. Let’s look at some of the biggest relationship milestones you should celebrate. You could host a grand party or simply spend a quiet, relaxing day at each other’s side.
Introducing Your Partner to Family
This is likely the most nerve-wracking part of any relationship. Everyone worries about whether their family will accept their partner. Thankfully, most families quickly come around to the idea. The second most nerve-wracking moment is when your parents decide to dig out the old childhood photo album.
Some people want this moment over as soon as possible, but for others, it’s an important milestone that warrants celebration. Let your family know you’re bringing your partner over and help them plan a delicious dinner for the occasion. If things start getting awkward, just shove another spoonful of spaghetti into your mouth.
Buying a Home
Another one of the biggest relationship milestones you should celebrate is buying an apartment, condo, townhouse, or full-fledged home together. It can be difficult to adapt to living together, but it can also be extremely rewarding. Instead of having to text or call your loved one every time you want to talk, you can just walk into the next room. A great way to celebrate this achievement is by ordering a pizza or two and popping open a bottle of champagne in your brand-new kitchen.
Your Anniversary (No Matter the Type)
Married couples can look forward to their wedding anniversary. There’s the fifth, the fifteenth, and then the big one—the golden anniversary, reserved for couples who have been together for a whopping fifty years. If you’re not married, you can instead celebrate the day you became an official couple.
To bring an extra level of fun to your relationship, consider making some of the smaller, funnier moments into anniversaries. Remember the first time you went to the amusement park together? You can celebrate it by choosing a new roller coaster to brave each year. What about the first time you gave your partner a pet name? The original name might not have stuck, but there’s nothing wrong with reminding them of the time where you called them “snuggluffagus” once in a blue moon.