Dear Level

‘Tis the season for not being awkward around your future in-laws, thanks to these five guidelines — Meeting your partner’s family for the first time can be nerve-wracking — especially during the holiday season. It’s the time of year when loved ones gather in the spirit of peace and joy, and you definitely don’t want to be the guy who ruins it with an inappropriate joke or…

Breaking up is hard to do. Here’s how to handle it with dignity. — I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but no matter how in love you are, there’s an expiration date on your relationship. Being with someone forever is a myth, a unicorn, the kind of thing you always hear about but will never see because one of two things…

Seven ways to tell if your relationship is primarily financial — Congratulations! You’ve been dating a wonderful woman for some time now. You really like her! Things have been going well and you’ve become increasingly generous with her. Naturally, you pay for date nights and date days. On special occasions, your Amex does the electric slide in exchange for designer purses…

Forget sleeping on the couch — sometimes you just need your own space — For countless relationships, casual dating eventually turns into cohabitation. A percentage of those couples find themselves married, perhaps with kids — and decades of being stuck with each other when all you really want sometimes is space and time alone. Unfortunately, modern convention dictates that couples should sleep in the…

We all have moments where we lack confidence—but that’s no free pass to be a creep — I recently found myself in a cringeworthy virtual conversation with Jacob, a film producer who gives off some powerful #MeToo vibes. I don’t speak with this guy often, but when I do, it’s always alarming. He’s usually tipsy or full-blown drunk. …

Never mind what ‘FBoy Island’ says — the two identities are not mutually exclusive. This you? — “There’s an influx of good guys in the world!” said no woman ever. Heartbreak after heartbreak, women tend to learn early in their dating lives that most of the men they meet won’t be worth their weight in salt, and that they are, in fact, fuckboys. …

Whether you’re seeking closure or reconciliation, it may not be as absurd as it sounds — When my ex invited me to join him in couple’s therapy, I thought there was no way in the world I’d waste my time trying to put out the dumpster fire that was our relationship. …