Should You Give Your Partner A Second Chance?

Being in a relationship is hard af and maintaining one is no walk in the park either. It takes plenty of work and even more communication between both parties. But, what happens when one party messes up or fails to put in that extra effort to keep the social context we live in on this paradise isle and the variety of missteps that can happen, the question on my mind was, ‘If this happened to me, should I give my partner another chance?’

- Sumaiya Shuaibdeen

In my quest for answers, I sought the opinions of women and men from different walks of life, experiences and marital statuses to help gain a better perspective.

To help understand matters even further, I suggested 3 different scenarios which appear to be the more prevalent causes in Colombo: domestic violence, not making the time, and sexual chemistry. (Disclaimer: Cheating is not included in this list as it is not up for debate and is a complete deal breaker no matter the situation. You deserve someone who respects you!)

1 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

This includes all kinds of mental and physical abuse irrespective of the magnitude.

“No one has the right to hurt anyone either mentally or physically. I think it’s best to avoid such a toxic person at any cost when it’s clear they don’t really love you.”

— Anusha, 23 (single - never been in a relationship)

“My past relationships have been emotionally draining and I let it happen to me over and over again as I thought my partner would change. Despite my patience, nothing really worked. So what I’ve learned is that you can’t change anyone. So, if this happens to you don’t wait until it’s too late! Try communicating and if the response isn’t positive, let them go without wasting your time.”

— Rumana, 25 (single – been in relationships before)

“If he is unnecessarily nagging you to text him and call him at work, tries to control your behavior, who you hang out with and what you wear, that's a big no, no. This isn’t love. It’s an obsession. Try to talk it out and if it continues, it’s time to cut your losses and move on.”

— Harini, 28 (in a serious relationship)