My thoughts on kids dating have changed !!
This piece of my story will have a few different segments honestly because there are so many layers to it , all I’ll say now is that wow , at 16 your definition of “love” is truly based on experience and is skewed. When I was 16 I met a guy who called me beautiful and we got along really great and were great friends. Honestly we bonded great especially over our common traumas. That’s probably where the relationship should’ve ended but I stayed because I didn’t know what relational love should look like . I knew that I felt like I had no one in my corner . I knew that he listened and understood. I knew that he had my back no matter what and vice versa so we stuck together. Looking back has made me SO INTENTIONAL on making sure that my daughters are seeing healthy love, that they see my husband adoring me, they see us DATE , they see us love eachother and serve EACHOTHER. Because I didn’t have an understanding of love at all. My understanding was that you ride with that person no matter what they put you through. Both of us had some trauma & came from homes with issues and that’s what bonded us together most and it’s crazy because we would go wherever the other person was. We would be on the phone all day / night . We were like glue . And as an adult I can see how unhealthy that is . As we got older and grew together things changed but we stayed even through the change. This really showed me how important it is to know God for yourself. Neither of us did. If we knew what God said about us? About our value? About HIS never ending relentless love for us? We would have NEVER dated . But you had two lost souls clinging on to any form of hope & in the end you end up hurting eachother because we are Human. This means we will fail, time and time again. So hoping for someone to be your happiness and source of love when we change everyday is dangerous. You really hurt your own self . But I thank God that I can see all of this now . I wonder what we can all look back on and see in our lives from a different perspective now? God has been so faithful and so patient as I’ve learned through this process but wow has it been a process.
#embracevulnerability #transformation #transparency #jesus #faith #testimony #Lemon8 #lemon8creator #Lemon8Diary #RelationshipStory
The topic of teenagers and dating has gained considerable attention in recent years as various studies highlight both benefits and pitfalls. Research indicates that early dating can enhance social skills, fostering emotional intelligence and resilience. However, young love is often clouded by immaturity; teens may struggle to differentiate between genuine emotions and infatuation. Parents play a pivotal role in shaping their children's viewpoints about relationships. Instilling values like respect, communication, and understanding can help guide them through complexities. Experts suggest that exposing children to healthy relationships, such as witnessing their parents' interactions, can teach them what to look for in their own friendships and romances. Moreover, discussions on dating shouldn't shy away from addressing the potential dangers, like peer pressure or possessiveness, which may lead to unhealthy dynamics. Open dialogues about emotional well-being, consent, and individual worth are essential in promoting healthy relationship habits. Ultimately, each of these reflections is crucial as we think about how the dating landscape continues to evolve in the digital age, where social media often influences young people's perceptions of love and romance.
I’m pretty sure y’all would’ve still dated even if you were religious at the time just because you as an adult can look back and think oh if I had religion I wouldn’t of done it you’re not your teenage self anymore you can’t make decisions you would’ve made as a teenager knowing what you do now