Healthy Relationships: by Teresia Smith
It’s more than just having a boyfriend or girlfriend.
Every August, we send our kids back to school with backpacks full of supplies.
We make sure they have notebooks, pencils, calculators, and maybe even a new pair of shoes.
But there’s one thing that doesn’t fit in a backpack. Knowing what a healthy relationship looks like.
For many teenagers, this school year will include a first crush, a first date, or maybe even a first heartbreak.
That’s part of growing up.
But somewhere along the way, our culture has blurred the lines between love and control.
If someone wants to know where you are every minute of the day, that isn’t necessarily love.
If they get angry because you spend time with friends or family, that’s not devotion.
If they make you feel guilty for saying no, that’s not respect.
Healthy relationships aren’t about ownership. They’re about partnership.
The strongest relationships are built on trust, kindness, and the freedom to be yourself.
You shouldn’t have to change who you are just to keep someone interested.
As parents and grandparents, we don’t have to know all the latest slang or social media trends to have these conversations.
Sometimes the best question is simply, “How does that person make you feel?”
If the answer is anxious, afraid, or constantly worried about making them mad, that’s worth talking about.
Let’s teach our teens that butterflies are normal.
Walking on eggshells is not.
Our kids deserve relationships where they’re encouraged, respected, and safe.
That’s a lesson that will serve them long after graduation.
If you are navigating teen dating, Crisis Services of North Alabama Jackson County office offers free and confidential services such as teen support groups and education on healthy relationships, as well as support for survivors of intimate partner violence or sexual assault.
Call our local office today at 256.574.5826 to speak with an advocate. Reach out. You are not alone.
