Secrets and lies

How much do you discuss your significant other with your friends?

A variety of things prompted this discussion. One: I recently read a blogger's claim that she never talks badly about her husband around friends.

Two: Here, a relationship coach asserts that bad-mouthing your partner can kill your marriage.

Finally: I enjoyed this Elle article, which asks if it's always a betrayal to talk about your husband with another man.

I've been in situations where you get around a certain group of friends and always end up complaining about the same relationship issues. You can be completely in love going into a girls' night and hate your relationship when you get home.

I respect people who view their relationship as something sacred, and never publicly say negative things about their partner because of that.

But at the same time, those people also risk exuding a false sense of perfection.

Their friends speculate worst-case scenarios about their romantic imperfections behind their backs.

So sometimes, when you consider the alternative, bad-mouthing isn't that bad after all.