Is your teen in a healthy relationship?

The teenage years are when we develop most of our long term relationships skills.  Our first rejections and heart breaks typically occur at this time. Remember when you were told "It's not you it's me. I just want to be friends"?   Learning how to cope with these feelings is vital to a healthy love life in the future.  The wonderful folks at Nemours have some great family oriented resources.  The article below is for your teen to asses the health of their current relationship.

Am I in a Healthy Relationship?

ps, the answer is no if....

"... a boyfriend or girlfriend uses verbal insults, mean language, nasty putdowns, gets physical by hitting or slapping, or forces someone into sexual activity, it's an important warning sign of verbal, emotional, or physical abuse.

Ask yourself, does my boyfriend or girlfriend:

• get angry when I don't drop everything for him or her?
• criticize the way I look or dress, and say I'll never be able to find anyone else who would date me?
• keep me from seeing friends or from talking to any other guys or girls?
• want me to quit an activity, even though I love it?
• ever raise a hand when angry, like he or she is about to hit me?
• try to force me to go further sexually than I want to?"

FYI, this also applies to adult relationship!

From