At what age can I have a serious relationship?

June asks: "How old do I have to be before a serious relationship My parents want me to wait, but I think I'm in love now How young is too young to have a serious relationship.?"

Let's talk about the definition of a serious relationship before. In the other factors are equal, no matter how old you are or how many relationships you have had

When I think of a "serious" romantic relationship, I think we have an obligation to the other to say with a higher level of intimacy, respect, trust and honesty that two friends share partner. What does that mean exactly? Let's break each other:

• Commitment: If you say it is to stick together, even when the going gets tough, and for a long time;
• Notice: If the two are physically intimate (eg hands hug, kiss) and emotionally intimate (shares, deep in a long time, without shame, anger, shame or fear innermost thoughts);
• Note: If you notice that your partner is not the same as you in many ways, but still enjoy, beliefs and uniqueness;
• Understand trust, have faith and trust in everything on this list, and how you feel about each other;
• Honesty: if you know the truth, even if it's hard, does not change how the two feel each other;

Phew! It's a pretty intense list, and I would say that many adult relationships do not meet these criteria, even if they marked their relationship as a serious problem. Each element of this list is connected to another, emotional intimacy either just ignore or avoid people most. For what? Since you can not fake emotional intimacy, and it takes time. Many of them. I would venture to few people can do this kind of emotional connection in a day or even a few weeks to create.

Why emotional intimacy so important? Without it, the physical intimacy is just that - physically - and you find yourself in a relaxed atmosphere or friends with benefits, relationship or otherwise seriously than not, also with many other factors exist. Also, since you mean physically intimate not think you are serious, or are even in a relationship.

So, how to build emotional intimacy? You spend time together, get to know the peculiarities of the other person, the nice aspects, and maybe even things you do not like. They get to their dreams, their values, beliefs and what makes them feel connected, and what they fear or know if possible to avoid. This could be in a group, a set of data, or pass other interacting together.

How do you know what to do when one or two of you, ask for a "serious relationship"? If your list includes all the above elements, and you feel comfortable with, their physical and sexual boundaries with this person long before something happens, know that what you say, respect and honor your wishes, you are probably ready for a serious relationship.

Going back to your question at hand: what age should you? 16? 19? 23? Plus? I'm not sure someone will give you a clear answer on this because their physical age does not determine if all the things we have talked until it happens. I know 30 year olds who are not willing to enter into a serious relationship, because they have not learned healthy boundaries or how to trust someone, or because their relationship physical intimacy before creating emotional intimacy species. What I'm saying is: If your relationship meets all the criteria to share this item with your parents (s), and explain why you think you are old enough. If you still believe that you are not ready, or wait two or three years, please respect that, knowing that, if a person you love, and respect the wishes of their parents.

_{My teenage daughter Dating What?, What is with her boyfriend overnighters?, Totally Free Date Ideas, Casual Love?, The Love Calculator, I'm in love?.}