What is a loving relationship?

The Awesome Facts of Life
Loving Relationships
LOVING RELATIONSHIPS
?
What is a loving relationship?
There are different kinds of love. Love for your family. Love for a close friend.
Love is a special feeling that we have for some people. We feel comfortable and
safe when we are with them. We like being with them. We trust them. We are
kind to them. We do our best for them.
It is by knowing someone for a long time that you get to know the real person
inside. You want to know what that person thinks in their head. You want to
know what that person feels in their heart. You want to see how that person
acts in many situations. Only then will you slowly build trust for him or her.
That is when you may feel love, and know if that person cares about you.
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The Awesome Facts of Life
Loving Relationships
MAKING A COMMITMENT
The kind of love we are going to talk about now is romantic and sexual love.
People who know each other for a long time and learn to trust each other may
have a real love. They develop deep feelings for each other. They make a
commitment to be together.
A commitment is a promise. A commitment in a mature, loving, sexual
relationship means a promise to have only one sexual partner.
The two people in a mature sexual
relationship do not have other romantic
and sexual partners, just each other. They
promise their love to each other only.
Part of their love is romantic. Part of
their love is sexual. They feel safe with
each other. They feel responsible for
their partner. They do not want to hurt
the other person.
This kind of relationship is the closest kind you can have. The two people
consent to be in a sexual relationship. Consent means to agree. They agree to
be sexual partners. They may want to be together for the rest of their life.
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The Awesome Facts of Life
Loving Relationships
What do you think?
1. Diane and Gavin are dating. Diane calls Gavin her boyfriend but Gavin dates
other women too.
Do Diane and Gavin have a commitment?
YES
or
NO
Is it OK for Gavin to date other women?
YES
or
NO
What should Diane do?
________________________________________________________________
2. Lee and Wes have known each other for a long time. They like to spend a
lot of time together. They trust each other and have decided not to date
other people.
Do Lee and Wes have a commitment?
YES
or
NO
If Lee or Wes change their mind and want to date other people, what should
they do first?
________________________________________________________________
3. Anita is dating Carlos but she flirts with lots of other men.
Do Anita and Carlos have a commitment?
YES
or
NO
If Carlos is not comfortable, what should he do?
________________________________________________________________
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The Awesome Facts of Life
Loving Relationships
Circle the right answer: TRUST or DO NOT TRUST
1. You just met someone on the bus. She asks you to meet her on Saturday at
the bowling alley.
TRUST
or
DO NOT TRUST
2. Lauren met Jerry last year at her best friend’s party. They have been dating
every week and getting to know each other slowly. Jerry is very kind and
treats Lauren with respect.
TRUST
or
DO NOT TRUST
3. Amanda and Rachel just met two men at the amusement park. The men are
very friendly and invite the women over to their apartment for pizza.
TRUST
or
DO NOT TRUST
4. Sylvia and Bruce are dating. At the dance Bruce sees Sylvia slow dancing with
another man and holding him very close.
TRUST
or
DO NOT TRUST
5. Tony and Nikki are on their first date. Tony feels uncomfortable because Nikki
is moving way too fast for him.
TRUST
or
DO NOT TRUST
6. Tanya feels safe when she is with Eduardo. He always tells her the truth and
keeps his promises.
TRUST
or
DO NOT TRUST
7. Nina is only nice to Ivan when he buys her nice presents.
TRUST
or
DO NOT TRUST
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The Awesome Facts of Life
Loving Relationships
Answer these questions.
1. Who do you trust the most in your life? _______________________________
2. How long have you known that person? _______________________________
3. How do you know you can trust that person? ___________________________
________________________________________________________________
4. Do you think that trust is important in a sexual relationship?
YES or NO
5. How long should two people know each other before they make a
commitment to be sexual partners?
________________________________________________________________
6. How would you know if you can trust another person enough to be your
sexual partner?
________________________________________________________________
Warning! These are difficult questions! If you are having trouble answering
these questions, that’s OK! You may not be ready yet to have a sexual partner.
Healthy sexual relationships grow slowly and both people should feel ready to
make a commitment to just one partner.
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The Awesome Facts of Life
Loving Relationships
IMPORTANT MESSAGES FOR ME
* I CAN LEARN WHO TO TRUST BY GETTING TO KNOW A PERSON SLOWLY.
* I ONLY TRUST PEOPLE WHO TREAT ME WITH RESPECT.
* I CAN HAVE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE CARING, EQUAL AND SAFE.
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