73: Two Relationship F’s: Flirting and Friendships

Can happily married people still flirt with other people? Is it okay to have close friendships with someone you could be attracted to? Julie and David Bulitt are back from their summer break and kicking off a new season of Conversations for Couples with a topic that sparks plenty of debate: the two F's, flirting and friendships outside the relationship.

Julie, a family therapist for more than 30 years, and David, a divorce and family lawyer for more than 35 years, go back and forth on where playful fun ends and crossing the line begins. They explore the difference between intent and behavior, why the person on the receiving end may not read your flirting the way you meant it, and the "would you do it in front of your spouse" test. From there, the conversation turns to opposite sex friendships, lifelong friends who predate the relationship, staying friends with an ex, work wives and work husbands, and late night texts that can quietly erode trust.

Along the way, they introduce a third letter, the C word: compromise. And they close with a reminder that the most important flirting happens inside your relationship, plus a simple tip for bringing playfulness back when it has faded.

In this episode:
Can married people flirt with others, and where is the line?
Intent vs. behavior: why how it looks can matter as much as what you mean
The "would you do it in front of your spouse" test
Opposite sex friendships before and after marriage
Friendships with exes and why they can get complicated
Work wives, work husbands, and setting after hours boundaries
Respecting a partner's insecurity instead of dismissing it
Why flirting with your own partner is key to a long lasting relationship

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Website: https://thebulitts.com/
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Julie Bulitt is a licensed clinical social worker and family therapist. David Bulitt is a divorce and family lawyer. Julie is not your therapist and David is not your lawyer. This podcast is meant for educational and entertainment purposes only.

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