If you started your relationship with your girlfriend or boyfriend as friends, it can be difficult for some guys to transition and start treating you like a boyfriend. Now, it’s okay if you still treat each other like friends, but when you are boyfriend and girlfriend, the relationship should be closer and feel more special. You can learn together what that means for you two.
However, if you’ve been together for a while and your boyfriend still treats like you a friend, while you treat him like a boyfriend and partner, then it’s time to do something about it.
If you want something more, you have to be honest about your feelings and needs, otherwise, there’s no opportunity for improvement.
Steps to take when your partner treats you like a friend:
1- Tell Him How You Feel:
The first thing you should do is talk to your boyfriend about how you’re feeling and explain why it’s strange that he’s still treating you like a friend. Remember, men do not read minds. So, as much as we’d like them to, they are not able to guess what we want or need and they think very differently from us.
That’s why communication is so important in a relationship. Whenever you feel like something is wrong, you have to be honest about it. Sit down and explain how he’s making you feel and provide a few examples.
Don’t be accusatory, just explain how you’re feeling and be honest about your expectations. You want your relationship with him to be special, so how can he help make it that way?
2- Treat Him Like a Boyfriend:
If you’ve been treating each other like friends and you’re ready to change that, it’s a good idea to take the initiative. Things won’t change if both of you keep acting as friends after you’ve decided to be together as boyfriend and girlfriend. So, start treating him like you want to be treated. He will feel loved and inspired to do the same.
Give him small gifts, get him flowers, plan date nights, join him in his favorite activities, share more of yourself with him, etc. These are the things that partners do.
If he doesn’t stop treating you like a friend even when you’re treating him like your boyfriend, it’s important to address the issue. It might mean that he’s not ready to be your boyfriend and sadly, you’ll have to take a step back.
3- Don’t Always Be Available:
Taking some space might be good for the relationship. After all, absence does make the heart grow fonder. So, don’t always be available to hang out or go out of your way to see him. This will be good for you because you’ll have some time to reconsider the relationship and it will give him a chance to realize that he shouldn’t be taking you for granted.
He may even notice that he misses you more than he would’ve missed a “friend”. However, if spending some time apart doesn’t make him feel like he should make a bigger effort to make you feel special and be more of a boyfriend to you, then that’s not a good sign.
However, it’s better to come to terms with the fact that he’s not ready to be in a more serious relationship with you and focus on yourself so you can find the right person.
4- Don’t Wait Too Long for Things to Change:
If you’ve had a clear conversation with your boyfriend and you’ve made an effort for things to change, don’t wait too long after that. You can’t desperately wait forever; for him to start treating you like you deserve.
If he’s not willing to do that, the best thing you can do is step aside and stop wasting your love and attention on someone who’s not ready to claim you publicly and show his feelings.
There comes a point where you need to accept the facts, no matter how hurtful it can be, you’ll have to try and move on. When we go into a relationship, we do so with many hopes and dreams. But, if the other person is not on the same page, you can’t possibly make those hopes and dreams come true on your own.
It takes two people to make a relationship work! Don’t lose hope, though, there are plenty of men that would be happy to be more than “a simple friend” with you.
Bottom line:
Remember, there’s nothing better and more attractive than a woman who knows her worth, what she wants, and the kind of love she deserves. Don’t waste your time on someone who is not willing to recognize that being more than friends with you is the best thing that could happen to them.
A self-assured woman knows what she deserves and doesn’t settle for less! If your boyfriend is treating you like any other friend instead of treating you like the best thing that ever happened to him, it might be time to find someone who will do just that. Go find someone who will appreciate you as they should!