I’ve never cheated, but I was once made to feel like I had because I was in (what I thought was) a casual relationship with someone who, it seems, took it very seriously, and I was seeing other people at the same time. There was no intent to hide any of this, it just wasn’t discussed, and therefore I thought it was all okay.
I felt awful. I’m now very clear on my intentions at every stage of coupling with another person, and it was a good lesson to learn at a young age.
There used to be this idea of casual dating versus “going steady” (a monogamous at least semi-serious go at a relationship), but that disappeared by the '90s. Since then, unless it’s a casual hookup or clear Friends with benefits situation, it’s become more common for regular dating with sex to be equated with what used to be called “going steady”.
It’s important to make sure you’re on the same page.
I’ve never cheated, but I was once made to feel like I had because I was in (what I thought was) a casual relationship with someone who, it seems, took it very seriously, and I was seeing other people at the same time. There was no intent to hide any of this, it just wasn’t discussed, and therefore I thought it was all okay.
I felt awful. I’m now very clear on my intentions at every stage of coupling with another person, and it was a good lesson to learn at a young age.
There used to be this idea of casual dating versus “going steady” (a monogamous at least semi-serious go at a relationship), but that disappeared by the '90s. Since then, unless it’s a casual hookup or clear Friends with benefits situation, it’s become more common for regular dating with sex to be equated with what used to be called “going steady”.
It’s important to make sure you’re on the same page.
Definitely. 🤟😎