When someone says, “I’ve never been in a relationship,” it’s very surprising. It seems strange to think that someone has never been in a relationship when they are so extroverted and don’t mind dating.
But there are people who have never been in a relationship. They didn’t find the proper person or weren’t able to have one; they were just too busy with their lives or didn’t see the need for one.
It’s not easy to start a relationship with someone who has never been in one before, no matter what. They don’t know what it’s like to be in a relationship, the compromises and changes you have to make, or how to deal with the heartbreak, if there is any.
Read more: 5 Practical Tips for Dating a Divorced Man
So, here is a short guide to help you date someone who has never been in a relationship before.
1. Talking to each other
You need to make sure that the communication is clear and fair. They’ve never been in a relationship before, so they might not know how important it is to talk to each other clearly. You need to help them with this and teach them what they need to remember and how important communication is.
Make sure that the communication stays clear and doesn’t get messed up. Be their guiding light and show them how to be in a good relationship.
Christiana Njoku, a licensed professional counselor and relationship coach, says:
There won’t be mutual understanding in a relationship if there isn’t good communication. Talk more about being in a relationship with someone who has never been in one.
2. Be honest
The person you are dating has never been in a relationship before. It is too much to expect them to get the indications and gestures that aren’t expressed. Stop acting like “they should know about it” and be honest with them.
They don’t know anything about it and need to be told everything. You need to explain to them what gestures and other things really mean.
However, you have to make sure that you’re not being aggressive to them.
3. Thank them for their actions
The person you love will definitely do things to show you they adore you. They might go too far or not do enough at some point.
You should be grateful for their work in either case. You need to let them know that tiny things are more important in a relationship than big, flashy shows.
4. Help them understand their limits
When you’re in a relationship, you should definitely follow the rules. It could be hard for someone who has never been in a relationship to comprehend how important boundaries are.
They can think that two people in a relationship don’t need to set boundaries. You need to explain them to them and tell them to respect them.
Read more: 7 Important Relationship Questions to Ask Before Getting Serious
5. Don’t pay attention to a few side chats
Don’t pay attention to some side conversations.
When someone who has never been in a relationship eventually gets into one, their friends and family could be too much for them and stick their noses in from time to time. Dealing with people like this will be really annoying, but you need to understand them and learn to ignore them.
If you feel like you can’t handle it anymore, just tell your partner and ask them to talk to their friends as well.
6. Don’t let them focus on the doubts about themselves
When someone who has never been in a relationship before suddenly enters into one, they start to doubt themselves. They can ask, “Why have I never been in a relationship?” or “Why is this person in a relationship with me?” Their self-doubts may put you in an awkward place, and you can get upset with this.
Christiana Njoku, a marriage counselor, says:
When you doubt yourself, you may lose faith in yourself and find it hard to make decisions, even about your relationship.
But you need to learn to disregard these things. It’s their first time being in a relationship. They can’t handle it, so they doubt themselves. So don’t believe everything you hear.
7. Keep your ego in check
If you’ve ever been in a relationship, you know that your ego may sometimes undermine the great feelings you have. You can think you know a lot of things that your partner doesn’t.
Don’t let the idea that “my boyfriend has never been in a relationship” or “I am an expert in a relationship” get to you.
These things could ruin your perfect connection and leave them with a scar that will be hard for them to deal with.
8. Learn how to fight
Fights are normal in a relationship. The only thing that changes is that your spouse doesn’t know how disagreements work in a relationship. The pattern changes for each person, and so does their ability to handle the situation. You need to learn or relearn how to argue or fight.
Read more: What Makes a Man Fall in Love: 17 Pro Tips for Women
9. Talks about the future
When your partner starts talking about future plans, you could suddenly feel uncomfortable. The individual who has never been in a relationship doesn’t know that you should take things easy and let time show you everything it has to give.
So, instead of freaking out, give them the truth and help them understand that you can’t choose what happens in the future. Teach them to go with the flow.
10. Showing PDA
Some people could like Public Display of Affection, while others might think it’s too much. You need to talk to your partner about this. They can be too eager to be in a relationship and want to show their affection for you in public places as well.
You need to explain to them what works and what doesn’t. Help them with this.
If you’re dating someone who has never dated anyone before, these 10 tips can help you get through the first few weeks. Your partner will quickly learn how relationships function. You won’t have to worry about this for too long, so you won’t have to.
