A relationship specialist has highlighted seven critical indicators that your partner might be engaging in infidelity during the holiday season. These signs include shifts in behavior, extravagant gift-giving, and grooming for Christmas parties.
The cuffing season is here, and a significant 16 percent of single Americans feel compelled to pursue a winter romance, as reported by The Matchmaking Company. If your relationship has been flourishing, you might be contemplating spending Christmas together, exchanging gifts, and introducing each other to family.
Unfortunately, according to Jessica Leoni from Illicit Encounters, the festive season can present a ‘paradox for relationships’.
“On the surface, it’s about togetherness, but underneath it’s one of the most stressful times of the year,” she admitted.
Leoni suggests that December frequently witnesses a rise in affairs, attributing it not solely to desires for others, but as a means to escape routine.
“For many, straying at Christmas is less about betrayal and more about finding breathing space in a month that can feel suffocating,” she added, as per news.com.au.
Leoni outlines seven potential indicators that your partner might be unfaithful this holiday season. These include:
A change in how your partner interacts with you could be a sign of infidelity. This could manifest as guilt, leading to excessive affection or withdrawing and canceling plans.
Leoni explained to news.com.au that those engaging in holiday affairs might attempt to diffuse tension by showering you with numerous gifts.
“Watch for changes in how they handle their phone or personal devices – constant texting or taking calls in private might signal something’s off,” she added.
If your partner suddenly seems too busy for your cherished holiday traditions or avoids commitments like visiting your family, they might be emotionally withdrawing. Additionally, urging you to go out alone could be a red flag, according to Leoni.
She mentioned that if they’re keen for you to make plans that keep you occupied, it might be a tactic to create time for their secret meetings.
The expert noted that individuals engaged in affairs often use work as an excuse to stay out, as most partners won’t be suspicious.
This behavior could include working late or leaving under the pretense of a shift, only to spend time elsewhere.
While holiday shopping is common, if your significant other frequently disappears under the guise of buying presents, it might warrant further investigation.
A 2023 study revealed that 39 percent of those cheating, surveyed by Illicit Encounters, used holiday shopping as a pretense for an affair.
If your partner previously got along well with your family but now acts differently, this could be suspicious, said the expert.
“If a partner is cheating, their behaviour towards family – especially the kids – can change too.
“You might find that they’re more distracted or short-tempered with your children, or conversely, they may shower them with extra attention to make up for guilt.”
Subtle signs of infidelity may also include awkwardness and unexpected distance.
We all remember that scene in Love Actually when Emma Thompson’s character expects a necklace but instead receives a Joni Mitchell CD, while her husband’s mistress gets the jewelry.
It’s not just obvious gift disparities like this that can indicate trouble, according to the relationship expert.
“The type of Christmas present your partner buys you can absolutely be a sign that something’s not quite right in your relationship,” she told the outlet.
Both over-the-top gifts and those lacking a ‘personal touch’ can suggest issues in the relationship, she noted.
While attending a Christmas party together isn’t always customary, don’t panic if you’re not invited.
Nonetheless, you should be wary if your partner suddenly starts making an excessive effort with their appearance, according to Leoni.
This can involve spending a lot of time getting ready, getting a new haircut, or even preparing a gift for an unidentified colleague.
Leoni describes this behavior as ‘peacocking for a specific’ audience.
According to Marriage.com, peacocking involves ‘standing out through bold fashion, exaggerated behavior, or confident body language to attract attention’.