Summer is the perfect time for romance isn’t it? The weather’s warm and there’s no homework or over-packed schedules to distract you from the really important stuff—like spending time with the boy or girl you’re into. But if you don’t have a car—or more importantly, a driver’s license—the summer months can also put a damper on your romance. After all, school gives you seven or eight hours together—especially if you have some of the same classes—but once the summer comes it may be hard to see each other. So how do you keep your relationship going strong through the warm weather months? Here are a few tips.
- Make time for each other. If you live close by, this will be easy. You can just walk on over to their house whenever you feel like it. But if you live in another town, or don’t have a car, it’ll take a little more effort. Relationships take work to remain healthy and strong. Let your parents know that you’d love them to give you rides from time to time and be upfront about where you’re going—the last thing you need is to get grounded for being caught in a lie.
- Take your boyfriend or girlfriend along on family trips. If your parents are cool with it, inviting your bf or gf to tag along on family outings—whether that be a day at the beach or park or a full-fledged vacation—is a great way to get in some quality time. Not only will your family get to know them better, but you’ll get to see how they interact in family situations, which is a sure sign as to whether or not they’re a keeper.
- Don’t get jealous. When you don’t see them everyday, it can be easy to imagine what they’re doing when they aren’t with you—and who they’re doing it with. Avoid this type of thinking. It will only make you feel paranoid. In order for your relationship to flourish you have to have trust.
But most importantly, relax! It is summer after all. Enjoy the time with your partner and if you aren’t in a serious relationship, now’s the time to start chatting up that cute boy or girl you keep seeing at the park. You never know what can happen…
Funding for this project was provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Grant Number: 90-FE-0024. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.