The round table discussion with my girls began, “Is it infatuation because he knows exactly what to say to have me giggling or is it because he’s the first guy that has come around that doesn’t make me gag?”
After seven months of dating hibernation, I find myself in this quandary. He’s smart, gifted, educated with multiple sources of income, and admirable plans for the future. Still, I proceed with caution. Maybe it’s the FaceTime debates until the early hours of the morning or the discussions of the names of our future children.
However, when the declaration that “he may just fall in love with me” came it sent our pillow talk to a screeching halt. I was becoming a PCS (Prisoner of Cuffing Season).
Cuffing season: (noun) During the fall and winter months people who would normally rather be single or promiscuous find themselves along with the rest of the world desiring to be tied down by a serious relationship. The cold weather and prolonged indoor activity causes singles to become lonely and desperate to be cuffed.
It’s a common misconception that men do not get bitten with the “let’s settle down” bug when the holidays are looming overhead. My guy-buddy-friend had jumped the gun because cuffing season doesn’t officially begin until Labor Day and ends the week before Thanksgiving. Last year, I fell prey to its clutches and unfortunately the romantic affair ended on Christmas day — convenient for the both of us since we’d enhance our financial worth in after-holiday returns.
[Photo via Shutterstock]
So what have I learned from my mishaps? These three very important rules:
1. Keep it Casual - Exclusivity is the ultimate sign that you’ve been cuffed! Understand that relationships that begin after cuffing season are usually the real deal. So, if your partner is into you they won’t rush into an exclusive arrangement.
2. Keep it Costless – Abstain from expensive gift-giving! You can find unique ways to show your admiration for your new boo without spending your holiday money on a newbie. The exchanging of gifts is a symbol of “couple-hood.”
3. Keep it Classy – Stay cool, calm, and collected. Emotion betrays your attachment. If you find your partner pushing you to “settle down,” needing a “title,” or just becoming antsy about the “future of the relationship” after a month of dating, do not become ruffled.
All in all, it’s hunting season. There are some veteran marksmen out there who know exactly what to say and do to have you hooked. Keep these tips in mind and remember that in the games of cuffing season, “falling [in like] is failing.”
[Photo via Shutterstock]
