Wants-based play breaks me out of all kinds of ruts.

I used to be very focused on marrying my Sims. They would fall in love in highschool, marry in University, have tons of babies. Now, unless the roll a marriage want, it's not happening. Daniel Pleasant and Nina Caliente both wanted to get engaged, but never married. They were very happy.

Lilith and Dirk, on the other hand, haven't wanted to advance their relationship much. Lilith has cheated a couple times as Dirk neglected her for work. According to your votes in my Vote on my game thread, it looks like Dustin is going to lock them in a room until they reconnect.

In my former game style, they would have married and had kids immediately. All super achieving. I do have parents work on toddler skills, if the toddler has the want and the parent has any want whatsoever related to that kid.