The Dating Game

As children, many girls like to play ‘House’ - a game where they pretend to be married, cook food, have a job, and take care of children. It is a game of pretend, based off of a girl’s innate desire to love and be loved. But here’s the thing - it’s just pretend. At an age where they should be playing House, they are starting relationships. Fifth and sixth graders make a big deal about what’s happening in their relationship with their boyfriend or girlfriend. Let me say that again: ten and eleven year olds are ‘dating.’ That’s right. The same child that’s going to go home after school to eat some of Mom’s cookies and then watch some Spongebob is in a relationship. Do they even know what a relationship is? A relationship is something that prepares you for a serious commitment. You date to find someone you love and plan to marry. I seriously doubt that any of these fifth or sixth graders are ready to take the next step. Or seventh graders, or eighth graders, or ninth graders. I think you get my point. Even if any of these children - that’s what they are: children, people who are still maturing and growing up - are mature enough to be in a relationship, are they prepared to get married, have children, and support their family? If not, they’re probably not ready for that kind of a relationship.

I think that today children are taking House too far. It’s good to pretend and to make friends with people of the opposite sex, but to date before they know what marriage even is? It’s unreal. It’s just a game. Could this be the reason that there is so much premarital sex, so many unplanned pregnancies outside of marriage, and so much divorce in modern day America? Could it be because relationships have become a game rather than something to be taken seriously? It’s time for us to take a stand and to make dating something based on commitment, love, and honesty, rather than a game.

#byveronica #truelove #everythingelse