Can Couple's Contracts Help Relationships Last?

Have you ever seen the Netflix original “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before?" If you haven’t, the plot revolves around a girl who writes letters to all of her crushes, but never plans on sending them because she’s really shy. Her little sister, in a desperate attempt to help her find love, sends out those letters to the boys. Main character, Lara Jean, ends up writing a dating contract with one of the boys, Peter, to avoid an awkward love triangle with her sister's ex-boyfriend. Another day we could have the heated discussion of if Peter really is the best option for her, but today let's focus on the contract they wrote together. This contract outlined the rules, expectations, and conditions upon which the success of their relationship depended. I’ve been giving this contract some thought and it made me question the role of clear expectations in relationships. Did Peter and Lara Jean fall in love because of the contract or in spite of it? Can setting clear expectations at the beginning of a relationship help the long-term health and stability of it? To help answer these questions, we’ve invited certified relationship coach and dating expert Kelly Smith to join us today.