1. Am I fully aware of the benefits and dangers of dating?
2. Do I have clear guidelines or boundaries for this relationship?
3. Will my relationship with this person make me lower or compromise on my standards?

Paying close attention to these principles will help ensure that you have a healthy and fulfilling dating experience.

Courtship ⚖️ is a formal relationship between two adults, this relationship is formal because at this stage parents are involved. During courtships, intending couples evaluate each other to see how compatible they are for marriage. 

To have a meaningful courtship there must be an alignment of values. This does not mean always seeing eye-to-eye on absolutely everything but there must be mutual agreement on basic values. Courtship is also a period of preparing for marriage and building intimacy i.e. trusting each other more and more with your innermost emotions.

Marriage 👩‍❤️‍👨 is the legal joining of two people. It simply means two adults coming together to say they want to spend the rest of their lives together. It is a lifelong commitment that can bring stability, happiness and growth to both parties. Marriage has many benefits including – emotional support, financial stability, personal growth, social benefits, love and companionship. Successful marriages are built on communication, trust, respect, shared values and emotional maturity. Where a marriage does not happen and the woman/girl gets pregnant with the man uninterested in committing, the female partner is readily called single mother or baby mama. 

As an adolescent, you are not yet ready for marriage, however understanding the significance of marriage will help you to develop healthy relationships, prepare for future relationships and understand the importance of commitment. In conclusion, whether in dating, courtship or marriage, don’t ever become so preoccupied with who you want that you forget who you are.