Relationships that go badly are no fun for anyone involved, but add in the holiday season and you have a bit of a mess on your hands. While you want to break up with a person, is that really the best thing to do during the holiday season?

There are two schools of though on this: one, you could break up with them because when they realize that you were just holding out until after the holidays were over, it’s going to be doubly painful. Or two, you could break up with them when the time is right (okay, but not in the middle of a family dinner) and simply be known as the significant other who stole Christmas/Hanukah/Etc.

In the end, most professional therapist agree that sparing someone’s feelings for a holiday is not the right way to be in a relationship – breaking up is the right decision whenever it is the right decision, regardless of the holiday or the date.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t do it nicely.

Some things to avoid:

• Breaking up during a planned gathering at a family member’s home
• Telling anyone that you’ve going to break up with the person before you actually tell the person
• Breaking up with them in a public place, over email, or over the phone

You might not get out of this breakup with a good reputation, but at least you’re being honest – and that’s going to count for something. Eventually.

Breaking Up, Family Breaking Up, Family, Holidays, Relationships

Once you’re finally ready to take your online relationship to the next level, it’s time to plan that first date. And with the crisp autumn air, this is the perfect time for a little romance – and quite a few romantic settings for you and your special someone. Why not take advantage of these fall date ideas?

Go to the Pumpkin Patch or Cider Farm – Even though Halloween is over, you can still head out to the pumpkin patch for pumpkins to decorate or to throw into pies. You might also find local farms where you can pick out freshly made cheeses and eat a picnic lunch on the grounds. Or you can head into a corn maze for a fun adventure.

Head to a Local Football Game – Even if you don’t know who is playing, if you and your date are sports fans, there’s nothing like heading outside to a live football game. Bundle up with some hot chocolate or head to the snack bar for concession treats and you have the perfect date night.

Look for Local Festivals – Because the fall tends to have seasonable weather without snow or ice, you can often find local festivals for a number of different themes. See what your town has to offer and walk around the grounds for the day.

Go Flea Marketing – You might also want to head to your local flea market to see what’s for sale. Though this isn’t a typical date, it can turn out to be a fun scavenger hunt for you and your special someone.

Dating Essentials, Tips and Ideas Date Ideas, First Dates, Relationships

Just when you thought you had enough questions to answer on an online dating site, SelectSmart.com and Vajoe.com come along to ask you about your political affiliation and ideas. These online sites are taking the main idea of online dating and matching you up with the best candidate for you – rather than matching you up with someone to spend your Friday night with.

Okay, so you’re not going to find the love of your life, but you are going to answer questions about what you feel about abortion, immigration, taxes, same sex marriage, etc. This is going to help decide which candidate right now should get your vote in the next presidential election.

But, in a sense, you are trying to set up a ‘date’ with the next presidential election. You want to know what the candidates have to offer before you make your final choice. And if you’re not sure what you want, these websites can help you pick the right person for your beliefs and your current living situation.

Even if you have no idea who is running or what they stand for, you can get an inside look at their ideas and beliefs to help you start making up your mind.

Your love life doesn’t have to stop during the election year, but you might want to think about other candidates for your country too. Your love life can wait for one night. Online dating apparently isn’t just for love; it’s for matching up with the right leader too.

Conversation Topics Conversation Topics, Dating Websites, Love, Politics, Relationships