Dear Christine,
I am a 16-year-old female and my boyfriend, who is 17, has opened his heart to me and told me that he loves me.
I know what I feel for him is more than a crush. I love to be around him, I love to talk to him, and I love it when we embrace. I just don’t know if I love him.
I know he’s not saying and doing things to get me into bed. We were friends for a long time before we even went on a date. Besides, he’s way too shy for that. It took us two months before we actually kissed.
All I know is I want to talk with him 24 hours a day and I cannot concentrate on my studies. When I am with him I feel like I am on cloud nine, and he can pull me out of my darkest moods. Do you think that what I’m feeling could be love?
– C.C.
Dear C.C.,
You’ve asked a question many other teenagers have asked before you. These crazy, mixed-up feelings you’re experiencing are better known as infatuation, which can possibly be the first steps toward love, but are not in themselves an indication of love.
During your teens you will have a number of infatuations. Through a few of these and experience, you’ll soon acquire a better sense of what love is. Meanwhile, concentrate on your school work.
– CHRISTINE
