Teen Friendships and Love: Which Is More Important?

Most people hear the word "relationship" and instantly equate it to a love or even a sexual relationship. Add "teen" to the word and it's automatically assumed to mean sexual. However, the general defintion of "relationship" is simply any connection between two or more elements. As such, a teen "relationship" can be any kind of relationship - from a friendship between teens of the same gender or teens of opposite gender, even between teens and other people of varying age.

The quality of these relationships can also vary, but when it comes to teens, they tend to see relationships as only one of two things - a teen friendship, or a teen love.

Teen friendships are vast. They can exist between a teen and absolutely anyone. A good friend, no matter their age or gender, will be one of the greatest things a teenager can have. A really good friend is special and means a lot to a teenager.

Many successful love relationships start out with a friendship. This is likely the reason for their success. The better a pair know one another, the better they'll get along. In a love relationship that is long-lasting, the appreciation of a partner as a friend means much more than anything else. When looked at from the opposite view, it is much more difficult to build and maintain a friendship from a love or sexual relationship. Though they do seem to exist (though there are many that would argue that there is tension in those sort of friendships), a good friendship is always good to have - whether as a friendship alone or as the basis for a future love.

Friendships seem to come off easy when compared with a love relationship. In a friendship, being straight-forward with one another and speaking frankly about the topic of conversation is common. However, in a love relationship, we find that we are much more aware of thinking before we speak, as we are more aware of not hurting the feelings of the other party. While at times, this is thoughtful, it can evolve to something far more harmful - at time even no communication at all, just to protect the ones we care for.

In a love relationship, there are also far more mutual expectations and more intimate moments and emotions involved. A teen love relationship can be great and long-lasting, but without the basis of a good friendship, the chances of such a relationship sustaining is significantly lower. Though teens have been known to push the envelope, there are legally defined limitations in regards to who can go into a teen love relationship where sex is involved. However, it is definitely not illegal for a teen to have older friends.

It is important for every teen to experience both friendships and love relationships. There is a lesson to be learned in every relationship they experience. However, a good friendship is one of the best gifts a teen can have. Even if they find themselves in love with the sweetest young man or woman in the world, having the basis of friendship can make their relationship far sweeter.