Love

Boys,

What does it mean to love? When will you know that you are “in” love?

These are the questions that will be (or already are) on your mind. As males, you honestly probably won’t contemplate the question of love as much as the girls that you are around. You also probably won’t feel the same emotions as early as they. However, you will think about it.

I want to encourage you not to worry about it. Learn who you are, and be confident in that. Everything else will fall into place. If you try to let a relationship define you, you will never be self-confident enough to benefit the other in that relationship.

I write about this because of my conversation with you, Jonathan, last night:

Jonathan: Dad, do you have to date when you are in high school… or college?

Me: No, you don’t have to date. Why?

J: I was wondering if you had to date in high school or college.

Me: No, you don’t have to.

J: Why do you date Mom?

Me: Well, because I love her.

J: Do you have to date if you love somebody?

Me: No, but if you love somebody you will want to date her.

J: But do you have to date?

Me: No. But there will be people that you think you love, and that you at least like, and you will want to date them. You don’t have to worry about that for now, do you?

J: No. I just wanted to know if you have to date.

Me: No, not if you don’t want to. You just be friends and everything will work out. It’s ok if you like somebody, but don’t worry about that right now.

A little later:

Jonathan: Dad, how do you tell someone you love them?

Me: Well, that’s a hard question. It’s really as simple as saying, “I love you,” but it is had to do sometimes.

J: Because you don’t know what they are going to say?

Me: Yeah, you might not know how they feel and what they will say back.

J: Did you tell Mom?

Me: I think I said something like, “I think I am falling in love with you.”

J: Yeah.

Me: Jonathan, do you think you are in love with someone?

J: No.

Me: Ok. You will like a lot of people. But you will know when you are in love.

J: Ok. Daddy, I love you.

Me: I love you, too.

I love you guys,

Dad