Is Our Relationship Unhealthy?

Dear Lisa Love,

Everybody's jealous of my boyfriend and me and I'm tired of it.

My own best friend doesn't like us together because we don't hang out like we used to. But he's my first real love. I think we're soul mates and will get married after we finish school (I'm in fifth form so I have to wait till I'm old enough not to need my parents' permission). We've been together 18 months and I'm still crazy about him. When you meet the love of your life, you want to be with him all the time. I don't think that's “weird” as my friends keep saying.

My mom thinks we're “unhealthy” just because we're together all the time. When we're not together we're texting and emailing each other.

We're not unhealthy, right? I just wanted an unbiased opinion.

- Young and In Love

Dear Young and In Love,

Even though it's normal to want to spend a lot of time together as a couple, it should not be at the expense of the other people in your life, namely friends and family. You should listen to your mother. Mothers are usually right and she's most likely right about you having an unhealthy relationship.

Furthermore, I do think you are moving too fast if you are already talking marriage after only 18 months. Marriage is a huge step in anyone's life and at your age most young people are not mature enough to handle living with someone and managing a household including paying bills and cleaning etc. while balancing the jobs you will obviously have to have to support yourselves and possibly a baby.

- Lisa Love