Remember how you feel when you go somewhere new? It's like meeting someone new - there's excitement, exploration and loads to discover. For a while, this new love occupies all your time, then the obsession settles. With the infatuation gone, you start to see the other person as they really are - warts and all. This is when you discover whether you've got the big l.o.v.e or just a crush.

All relationships have their ups and downs. Coping with the 'highs' is easy, but how do you deal with the lows? Avoid a few bad times by making time for your partner. Don't spend every minute of every day working or going out with friends.

Like all normal people, your partner will have the occasional mood. Most of these tempers will be nothing to do with you, so don't take them personally. Be prepared not to be their top priority for a while. If it happens all the time, ask if there's anything you can do. Otherwise keep out of it and don't make it your problem. You're an emotional being, too. It's okay to feel angry or sad. You should be able to share these feelings with your partner.

Don't take on each other's problems as your own. Don't feel you have to find an answer to all your partner's problems and don't expect them to solve all of yours.

If talking to your partner only causes a row, confide in a member of your family or a close friend. Bringing worries out into the open can bring them back into perspective and stop you making a snap decision about your relationship that you later regret.