Your boyfriend has likely decided on his junior or college team by now and you’re SO happy for him! The catch? He picked a team that’s literally across the country. I’ve been in this situation with my boyfriend and thankfully, we made it work. It’s definitely no walk in the park at first, but it ultimately made our relationship stronger. I’ve compiled a list of tips that I wish someone would have told me going into my LDR. I hope this helps some of you fellow hockey girlfriends!
1. Don’t be selfish. Easier said than done, but it will make both of you SO much happier. Make sure your man knows how proud you are of him, and that you’re just as happy as he is about his decision to play for whatever team he chooses.
2. Have fun. Again, this is SO much easier said than done. Go out with your girl and guy friends and, most importantly, know that having fun without him is OK.
3. Trust him. This one is pretty important. It may be difficult for you to hear about or see pictures of the team parties he will be attending often. But that’s one of the reasons you’re with him in the first place, right? Because he’s fun, and likes to have a good time (just like you)! Don’t worry about pucksluts; your boyfriend thinks they’re just as trashy as you do. Lastly, let him enjoy his time out with his teammates…they’re family.
4. Social Media. Twitter, Facebook, Skype, etc., will be a HUGE help in staying connected with your hockey boyfriend. That being said, there’s no need to constantly hit up his Facebook wall or Twitter mentions. Once in a while he’ll love it, but there IS such a thing as being too clingy in an LDR. Post a funny video or picture once in while too.
5. Have an end in mind. This means planning your visits to see him or having an idea when the long distance will be over. Having set dates for your visits makes the time go by faster. He will love it if you surprise him once in a while too! Making summer plans to be closer together may help you out also.
6. Calling and Texting. Hearing your man’s voice almost every night is going to make you so happy! It’s not necessary to constantly text and call him. If he has a bad game or doesn’t get much ice time, send him a clever text like ‘even if you didn’t get the W tonight, you can score with me later.’ Yeah, it’s pretty cheesy, but I promise he’ll love it. You’re going to have a lot of FaceTime and Skype sessions with him and his teammates!
7. Stay optimistic. This one may be the hardest tip. It’s easy to get in the habit of the ‘I miss yous’ and the ‘why are you so far aways.’ All of that makes the relationship ‘heavy.’ The fact that he’s committed to a long distance relationship with you means a lot. Know that you guys will make it!
Like I said before, LDR’s aren’t always easy. There might be an occasional bad day, but know that you can overcome it. Also, make sure he knows you’re committed. Hopefully this will help some of you as your boyfriends start to make their transition into the next phase of their hockey careers! Remember to always be his biggest supporter. XO
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