Hey,

 

Thanks for writing. As far as your question about having sex at 18… please go to the Sexual Activity section of the Think Tank. As far as your parents and this guy are concerned… I have to believe that there is probably a reason why they think it's not a good idea for you to see him.  Maybe they are concerned about how serious things are getting between you two and are concerned about you getting caught-up with some of the negative consequences that can result when things get too serious (ie: sexual activity).  Judging from your question, can you really blame them for being extra cautious???  I would be more worried if they didn't care at all and could care less what you did.

 

On one hand, I have to give you props for taking the time to think this thing through.  However, I also need to caution you to not base your decisions on just your feelings or your limited amount of life experiences.  If you want to really make a good decision you have to balance your feelings with factual information and the wisdom of individuals that love you and have already stood in the position where you stand today.  Trust me when I say that your question is EXTREMELY common.  Unfortunately, many choose to go the Hollywood route and trust their feelings only to find that when the feelings went away, so did their partners.  The only thing that remained was the baggage of making several bad decisions.

 

Here is something else to consider.  Have you ever had a friend who was dating a jerk and you couldn't understand what they saw (or didn't see) that made them stay with them?  One of the reasons this happens is because it is almost impossible to really look at the pros and cons of a relationship when all you can see, feel and think about is that person.  This is why whenever things start to get a little "heavy" in the relationship, you should back-off to give yourself an opportunity to evaluate the situation with a clear head.  It's also why you should set boundaries in your relationships that keep things from getting too serious in the first place.

 

Thanks again for writing and be sure to check out the Sexual Activity section of the Think Tank for the "When should I have sex" part of your question.