MU (mutual understanding). Dating. Special Friends.

These are just some of the many terms that young people nowadays use to define their relationships. It’s no secret that kids are now going into relationships earlier than kids were ten years ago. What’s worse is that it’s not unusual anymore to hear of some girls getting pregnant at 14 or 15. Some kids now start having crushes as early as 6 while kissing for some could start as early as 9. Most of them think it’s okay while most of us in an older (and wiser!) generation can’t help but wonder what these kids are getting themselves into.

Is it too early?

The common question kids ask whenever this topic comes up is when is it too early? Or when is it okay? At what age can I have a boyfriend/girlfriend?

Let me relate my own experience, I had my first relationship when I was 15. Back then, I knew only a handful of people who were also in relationships. However, looking back now, I still think I got into it prematurely. I made a lot of bad decisions because I was too young to use proper judgement and discernment.

I’m not saying 15 or older is ideal but if the relationship or being in a relationship lets you make bad choices then you shouldn’t be in one in the first place. It’s something that applies even to adults but with adolescents, raging hormones, lack of experience and wisdom, definitely makes things more difficult.

There are also some who had their first relationship at a young age and even ended up marrying that person. It’s different for each person and it’s different for each child. If the child is not even mature enough to behave appropriately in certain situations then getting into a relationship would just give the child more opportunities to act and behave inappropriately.

I feel thankful that Mateo is still very far from adolescence but with the way a lot of kids are nowaday, I could only hope that he’ll be so much wiser when that time comes.