Relationship Fix: Would You Give Your Partner a “Free Pass”?

It used to be that couples who had weathered their relationship for six years had to be aware of that omnipresent seven year itch. But now it seems that that year has been reduced to two; and hey, it’s not that surprising when you consider how many celebrity relationships fizzle after a year, a few months¦or mere hours (ahem, Britney).

So what if you knew that your relationship was running out of steam”what measures would you pursue to ensure it lasted? This particular question is the basis of the recent Hollywood comedy, Hall Pass, which revolves around two male best friends who are both unhappy with their married sex lives and miss the days of bachelorhood. Sensing this, the wives, who also happen to be best friends, allow their husbands a week to commit adultery, while they too, also get a week off from marriage.

Okay, so once you get past the gag-reliant comedy and ˜bro mentality’ shtick, as well as the obvious/surprising ending (depending on how you view it), it definitely prompts one to wonder how this agreement would fair in the real world. On the one hand, the question can be reduced to the age old adage that humans were never and will never be monogamous creatures, which for as long as our race endures there will be a firm divide. Yet this adage is perpetuated and glorified through media, in shows like Sister Wives, as well as portrayed through public figures like Hollywood producer Jerry Weintraub (who is openly married to his wife but lives with a girlfriend), and most recently, nonsense-sputtering Charlie Sheen (where he and his ˜goddesses’ lead a ˜blissfully boring life’).

Now, for some, if not most, leading a polyamorous lifestyle is simply out the question, but maybe, and dare this be said in light of Sheen’s public meltdown, perhaps these people are on to something? Could allowing your spouse or partner a week off rekindle the spark you both lost, or will it simply lead oneself down a road to disaster?

There will be some couples unable to deal with the pangs of jealousy this arrangement could elicit, as one friend quickly asserted a recipe for disaster, but perhaps allowing each other to explore other possibilities will reaffirm your love for another, or it may well solidify feelings of wanting to move on.

One thing that is for certain is that much like the adage itself; this non-conventional topic will undoubtedly yield strong opinions.

What are your thoughts on issuing a ˜free pass’? Do you believe it can reignite lost love? Are there specific circumstances in which this arrangement could work, or do think it will rip a relationship apart regardless of situation?