Mélanie Berliet

Whether you consider it a baby step towards marriage, a means of procrastinating that walk down the aisle, or purely a money-saving measure, there’s really no downside to becoming Domestic Partners once you qualify for this underrated relationship milestone.

When they ask if you’re jealous and you say yes (even if you’re totally not) because you know it will make them feel a little bit better about themselves.

Motherhood automatically sharpens your sense of perspective.

Does the crustified food stuck to your forehead bug you? At all?

Throughout my pregnancy, whenever friends, family members, or strangers asked if I was going to breastfeed, I always chimed, “I’m going to try my best!” I prided myself on approaching the matter rationally, understanding that there was another person—my unborn daughter, whom I hadn’t even met yet—who factored into the equation.

You protect your calendar at all costs. You have zero problem telling a fib if it’ll get you out of doing anything other than spending time with your people at home.

He nodded as if he already knew, then added: “What a little flirt!”

I’m slowly learning that I will never feel alone ever again because I am the mother to a daughter and that will never change. As far as realizations go, this is both liberating and terrifying.

They don’t understand why you won’t let go of that tattered sweatshirt you’ve loved to literal shreds.

Sometimes, you get upset because you’re so damn happy and it doesn’t seem like feeling so awesome could possibly be sustainable. Except that it is! As long as you’re together. Which is amazing.

I’m sure you’re doing the best you can.

I want her to laugh at something that made her feel embarrassed months before, and to realize that time heals in almost all scenarios.