How to Have the Talk

By Esther Crain You can charm the pants off anyone with your finely honed sugar lips and defuse most potentially deadly showdowns with your razor-sharp wit. Still, somehow, when it comes time to initiate the relationship conversation, none of that makes a damn difference. You're left tongue-tied and nerve-racked. That's because that couple-status report inevitably puts you in the clichéd nagging-woman-pointing-at-her-stopwatch position — and him on the utmost defensive. Someone is bound to get freaked out, hurt, or misled. Which is why we're here to help. Because the check-in is a necessary milestone in any growing relationship, you'll have to face the music at some point. We've come up with a plan for making the commitment conversation a lot easier on both of you — and it's actually effective.