hen you’re eight, finding out that someone “likes” you might be enough
to make you gag. At that age, romance isn’t likely to be on your mind.
Then sometime during your preteen and teen years, when your body starts
changing, your thoughts might start changing, too. Almost overnight, the idea
of having a boyfriend/girlfriend (bf/gf) may become so exciting that you can
hardly think of anything else.
Many girls and guys think that having a bf/gf is part of what being a teen is
all about. While it’s true that the intense emotional waves you ride as an ado-
lescent can lead to attractions to other people and to romantic relationships,
this doesn’t always happen. What if you’re one of the millions of teens who has
never been in love or had a bf/gf? Does this mean there’s something wrong with
you? No! Should you be worried? Absolutely not.
Almost everyone falls in love at least once in his/her life. If you haven’t yet
(but you want to), there’s an excellent chance you will someday. Can you make
it happen sooner? Probably not. But there issomething you can do in the mean-
time: be clear about the things you want and need, which makes you more
open to having them in your life. Being aware of what’s important to you
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C H A P T E R 2
W
What Are
Boyfriend/Girlfriend
Relationships All About?