Is there a right age to have your first serious relationship?

One of the great things about being young is that you can make mistakes. Relationships are a learning experience, and they are the tools by which a young woman learns to start and maintain better relationships in time. There is no manual anyone can follow, because everyone is happy by way of different stimulation and interaction. However, it is never too late to gain perspective.

Relationships end. Since this ia a reality whether you are 14 or 40, it is important to remain grounded in your approach to a relationship. Don't feel bogged by the swarms of friends who have "steady" and "serious" relationships, as statistically, the odds of them still being with their current significant other can only be LESS than the 50% of marriages between adults that end up in divorce. Keep that in mind. Adults make mistakes, and they supposedly know better. Don't make your relationship the "end all and be all" by defending an unhappy situation or insisting you cannot do better. You will.

If you find yourself choosing a wonderful young partner, you should both respect your young lives and focus on your individual goals and futures. It is very romantic to get married young and say you've found "the one," but what good can finding this said one soulmate be when you are uneducated and unemployed? Focus on college and focus on a career. If you can juggle a serious love affair at the same time, power to you! Get your priorities straight first.

The younger you are, the more time you have to explore your options, and your options for future mates and spouses is only made larger by the width of the circle of success you create. If you don't go to college, where will you meet an educated partner? If you decide not to work after college, how will you develop a responsible nature to build a family? It seems understandable now why many lawyers and doctors marry other lawyers and doctors, because they've all been in school together for extended amounts of time, even if they did not attend the same graduate schools. In effect, throughout life, "like seeks like," and if you want to have a happy life, your first step is to take yourself seriously. Then, take your relationship seriously.

In the meantime, enjoy and learn. Oh, and be very safe. Don't do anything stupid, ok?