An Australian couple has revealed why moving into different houses after living together for three years has been a positive move for their relationship.
Beauty YouTuber Chloe Szepanowski, 20, and her boyfriend Mitchell Orval, 22, got together when Chloe was just 16 and moved into their Melbourne apartment shortly after.
Things quickly began to feel ‘average’ and ‘like an old married couple’ so they decided to create some space between them in order to move in the right direction.
Beauty YouTuber Chloe Szepanowski, 20, and her boyfriend Mitchell Orval, 22, got together when Chloe was just 16 and moved into their Melbourne apartment shortly after
‘It’s what we’d call a step backwards to go forwards,’ Mitchell said in his girlfriend’s latest video.
Chloe went on a holiday to America last year in order to ‘find herself’ and figure out exactly what she wanted to do with her life.
During this time the pair ‘kind of’ broke up, which signalled the start of their separation.
Chloe went on a holiday to America last year in order to ‘find herself’ and figure out exactly what she wanted to do with her life
The video, which has almost 330,000 views has been very popular on Chloe’s channel
In order to get to the root cause of the problem, Chloe and Mitchell visited a relationship counsellor when she returned to Australia who told them they have a different love language and need time to work on themselves.
‘Who said we both have to live together? If we grow apart, whatever, and if we grow closer than that’s even better,’ Chloe said.
‘You don’t have to live with these expectations that encourage you to get married and have kids, all on a timeline.’
‘Who said we both have to live together? If we grow apart, whatever, and if we grow closer than that’s even better,’ Chloe said
Initially Chloe decided they should move out because they are so young and didn’t need to be stepping on each other’s toes all the time by being around each other.
Mitchell said he was ‘offended’ to begin with but can’t imagine a better outcome.
‘It ended up being a mutual decision. It’s feeling fresh again. We missed the “honeymoon phase” because we started living together straight away but now things are as good as ever,’ he said.
Mitchell can spend as long as three days away from Chloe and their two dogs before they are reunited, something the couple are enjoying.
Mitchell can spend as long as three days away from Chloe and their two dogs before they are reunited, something the couple are enjoying
‘You don’t have to conform to everyone’s expectations of how a relationship should be,’ Mitchell said
‘You don’t have to conform to everyone’s expectations of how a relationship should be,’ Mitchell said.
Their fans online have been very supportive of the change.
‘Very considered, very selfless, very mature and a very good example you are setting for your young followers,’ one person said.
‘So amazing seeing you both so grounded and mature about such a sensitive topic. Thinking of you both and I hope whatever is meant to happen between you comes to fruition,’ another said.
‘Very considered, very selfless, very mature and a very good example you are setting for your young followers,’ one person said
Many others have done the same thing in a bid to ‘freshen’ up their relationships.
‘My partner and I did the exact same thing. We had lived together for four years and we were both so bored and in such a routine,’ one woman said.
‘I moved out in November and moved back in with my mum. Things were going so so well and we made an effort when we saw each other and actually did things.
‘I lived with my mum for six months and then moved back in with my boyfriend because it felt right and it’s seriously better than ever. You are 100 per cent right that it’s okay to take a step back to go forward.’
Another added: ‘Going through the exact same thing, thank you so much for this. I’m going to make my partner watch this when he gets home from work It’s so good to hear it coming from Mitch too.’