Teen Dating: Respect, Safety, and Real Love (TDVM 2026)
Dating
and enjoying someone's company while learning about yourself can be fun.
However, it is necessary to be cautious about any warning signs when you are
dating someone as a teenager. It is important to understand and learn about
healthy relationships as a teenager. As well as understanding what respect is,
how to be safe, and what real love is all about when you are dating. This
year's theme for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month is " Real
Love."
Keep in mind that
dating as a teenager can be confusing and make you have doubts about what is
acceptable when it comes to dating. Dating abuse is unhealthy and can damage
your friendships as well as the relationship. Often double dating with a group
of friends can hurt your friendships with them especially if there is verbal
abuse, physical abuse, or harassment. Be careful when double dating or dating
too quickly because of peer pressure. If you are being pressured to date
someone or being teased to date someone; Do you know that you can confide in
someone that you trust to have a conversation about dating and social pressures
as a teenager.
During the
teenage years, you are learning, understanding, and discovering the type of
person that you want to be as an adult. Do know that it can be frustrating,
scary, and lonely to date as a teenager. Also, if you have a learning
disability, it can feel confusing, difficult, and can cause misunderstandings
depending on your dating experiences. Nonetheless, it is possible to have a
fulfilling and healthy relationship when you are dating and when you have a
learning disability. During Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, you can ask
yourself questions about what real love is all about.
You can ask
questions of someone that you confide in and ask them what real love is to
them. Understand the difference between real love and infatuation. Do not date
someone because your friends believe you are a good match, especially if your
friends make a bet. Be aware of jealous friends, disrespectful friends, and
friends that make you feel uncomfortable. Additionally, be careful with dating
someone that denies having a romantic relationship with you.
Avoid being alone
with your date especially if you do not feel safe. Notice how your date speaks
to you and their body language. If they are having a difficult day and speak to
you with anger, annoyance, or with aggression; Stop having a conversation with
them especially if they blame you for everything that has gone wrong. Recognize
the changes in your date's moods and their responses to questions. If your date
does not want to break up with you; Leave the relationship and find an adult to
help you end the relationship.
Make safety
planning a priority and discuss about dating boundaries with a trustworthy
adult. Staying silent is not recommended because experiencing dating abuse can
damage your mental and physical health. You might feel embarrassed, guilty, and
afraid of losing healthy friendships because of breaking up with your abusive
date. Recognize and accept that your abusive date will not change for the
better. If your abusive date is nice on certain days but then yells at you for
no reason; Do speak to an adult about it for intervention.
Real love is
respect, empathy, honesty, and healthy communication that does not harm you
emotionally. It is also a mutual concern for each other's mental and physical
health with caring support. True love is cheering both of you to succeed with encouragement.
As well as making both of you feel comfortable, welcomed, and feel joyful
together. Keep in mind that a dating partner accepts your boundaries,
understands your past experiences, and does not harm you.
Wear orange
during the second week of February for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and
for National Wear Orange Day. Focus on your friends’ conversations and notice
any changes in their physical appearance. Also, notice if your friend's eating
habits, sleep habits, or low-grade scores are being affected because of their
unhealthy dating relationship. Do speak to your friends about their feelings,
school grades, and listen to them attentively. Help your friend to get out of
the abusive dating relationship with a trustworthy adult or parents.
Saying no to
sexual intimacy is one dating boundary that must be respected from your date.
To be respectful, one must listen to each other's opinions and not silence one
another. Do not force each other to be sexually intimate within a brief time of
dating. Do not allow your date to hit you, throw you on the floor, or touch you
inappropriately. Here are websites with more information about teen dating and
teen violence prevention.
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM)-Love is Respect:
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) - love is respect
Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention-Info on Teen Dating Violence:
Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention | Info on Teen Dating Violence
Dating Violence Awareness Month-HCWC:
Dating Violence Awareness Month - HCWC
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month-No 2 Dating Abuse:
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month | No2DatingAbuse
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