Dating Without Regrets

Marriages were arranged by parents and the young people involved are brought together in marriage. No time was given was given for the individuals to study each other with the view to knowing whether they can actually live together as a couple or vice versa. But times are changing, and this trend in particular is rapidly wearing away. Today, people are better educated and informed, and the responsibility of choosing whom to marry is no longer that of the parents; hence the need for potential couples to associate and interact to ascertain their compatibility or otherwise, before embarking on a life-long relationship.

Today, the word “dating” has become a household topic amongst teens and young adults. Dating from the root sense of the word is not bad, as a matter of fact; it really serves a very useful purpose. But like any other thing, if it is not properly handled and applied, could become harmful to anyone involved. It is imperative therefore, that our young people be informed on the “do’s and don’t” of dating. This will help them overcome the pitfalls that are inherent in modern dating.

Dating does not have its origin from the bible, neither is it African. Dating as I have gathered through limited secondary source, started as North American tradition, and was made popular by the Hollywood movies and spread to other parts of the world. Unfortunately today, dating has become an exercise of jumping in and out of bed like dogs, for many youths. They seem to confuse dating with mating which is actually what these young people do today in the name of dating. For such people, dating is not complete until mating take place.

Dating is where two people of the opposite sex arrange to go out somewhere together. To date someone means to go out with the person regularly to places of interest in order to discuss and get to understand and know each other better.

There is Group dating and individual dating: Group dates is where a group of teenage boys and girls get together and go out; the group may not necessary be couples. It is suitable for kids and teens to have this kind of date to interact together and have opportunity to learn about themselves.

Individual dating on the other hand, is for mature adults only. It is not suitable for teenagers as it may expose them to undue pressure which they are not mentally and psychologically prepared to handle. Since our world today already exerts considerable sexual pressure on all ages, it is strongly advised that teens should not engage in early teenage-individual dating, because they are not yet mature to cope with the pressure that may follow suit. But as they begin to mature into adults, individual dating becomes a necessary option, but with well-defined boundaries.