We all wonder if our relationships are going anywhere. Often, it can begin to feel like a long-term relationship is stuck in a rut, not bad enough to break off but not good enough to take to the next level. While every relationship is different and follows its own pace, there are a few signs that can clue you in as to whether yours is becoming serious:

1. You call each other first. Whether it’s good news or bad news, you want to talk to your significant other. You may dissect a situation with your friends later, but whenever something major happens, you want the object of your affection to know immediately.

2. You use the term "we" frequently. We loved that movie; we want to go to India this summer; we missed your call yesterday. When you find yourself speaking for both of you, it is a pretty good sign that you are headed for serious coupledom.

3. You’ve had the "what would we name our children" conversation. Having the conversation does not necessarily mean you’re headed in that direction, but if you aren’t fairly serious, there is no reason for it to come up at all. Talking about baby names means that you are both at least considering what having children together would be like.

4. You have keys to each other’s apartments. You may not be living together yet, but keys denote full trust as well as full access. This is an important step in a relationship, and one that marks a definite turning point in the level of seriousness.

5. You are automatically included in invitations to each other’s major family events: His brother’s wedding; your aunt’s baby shower; his family reunion in another state. Your families and friends recognize your relationship officially, and if one is invited the other is automatically invited as well.

If your relationship shows all of the above signs of seriousness, be assured that you relationship is headed down a serious, long-term path. However, if your relationship displays only one or even none of the above signs, this may simply indicate that the relationship is fairly new and moving slowly. Ultimately, you must consider how you feel within the relationship and whether you are both comfortable with its progression.

Posted by Lisa.