Couples can slip into a lot of traps if they've been together for a while, and one of the worst is "parentification."
That's the definition of a relationship where one partner ends up taking care of the other, treating them a lot like a child – which is not healthy. Experts say people who end up "parenting" their significant others often lacked proper parenting when they were younger, and subconsciously end up making up for it.
Signs of parentification include:
- Consistently reminding the partner of their responsibilities
- Providing financial support
- Tolerating actions without holding the partner accountable
- Treading lightly to manage the partner’s mood
- Not communicating personal needs for fear of overwhelming the partner.