Should I have a boyfriend at this age?

There are no “shoulds” when it comes to love. If you felt panicked each time after several different boys asked you out, that’s your answer. Since you are being coy about your age, it is hard to say much more than that.

Being 13 is very different from being 16 in terms of your readiness, awareness, maturity and experience.

It’s not truly necessary to have one at all. If you don’t feel like you are missing anything why be with one just because other people have?

No. Absolutely not. Boys are bad. Keep your mind on making yourself into the best person you can possibly envision. Then, one day, you look back on your silly friends who waisted time with bad boys… and instead you’ll meet a real man of your dreams.

If the thought makes you panicky, then the answer is “no”. It’ll happen in time, and when it does your heart will “quicken” at the thought, and you’ll be “excited” and “nervous” (which is fine and normal; it still happens to me that way, and I’m 4 times your age). But you won’t panic at the thought; it’ll be a whole different mode of feeling, and one that you’ll want to experience over and over again. You’ll see. Give it time.

You should not have a boyfriend just because your friends do. Follow yourself, not your friends.

13–14 Absolutely not.
15 Maybe, depending on your maturity
16 yes, if you are mature enough.

Keep in mind that having a boyfriend will be fun, but there will be pressures that you will be able to deal with better when you are older.

My 6th grader told me have had a girlfriend. Then he left a note under my bedroom door saying:” Don’t worry, Mom. It just means we’re in like.” Seemed sensible to me. In other words, it’s fine to have friends whether male or female.

If you have to ask the question the answer is probably that you aren’t ready.

But there is different levels of having a BF. Holding hands and eating lunch together is a lot different from the dirty stuff I did when I was 16.

There are no absolutes, but I would answer in-between some of the above (having been a 13–16 yr old girl myself, once upon a time)

If you really, really like a boy and you do all the typical sidestep romancing until you’re sure he likes you too… go ahead and experience that tingling, sensational feeling. It will make you feel crazy and amazingly alive!

If you want a boyfriend only because you think you’re old enough, but there is no passion attached to the feeling, you will lose the game of life. You will attract boys and you will only go along with what you “think” is the correct response. You will never trust a lover because you didn’t allow yourself to define what love or passion means to you.

So…. I’m no prude, but, young girl… wait. Wait for magic.

I didn’t officially start dating till I was 18. Nothing wrong with waiting till you are ready and honestly interested in a boy. Dating involves two people. You shouldn’t date and make a guy believe you care about him because you want to keep up with your friends. For most boys that age, dating is still very serious and they haven’t quite learned to shield their feelings.

It’s not something you should do because of pressure. It is something you decide to do for yourself because you really want to get to know someone you like, better.

I wasn’t ready till I was about 17 going on 18. If I remember right, I felt pressured to keep up with my friends but then I remember they are not going to be in the relationship for me. When the right boy comes along, then I will consider it and I did. I was in no hurry. School was my number one priority
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After seeing friends break up and date someone else and break up again, I realized that my future lays in my hands. Not in any boys hands nor in my friends hands. Make yourself a priority and learn where you want to go in life and then worry about dating. There is nothing more attractive about a person than being confident in yourself and your choices.

You are not ready yet, the right boy hasn’t asked you yet, or a combination of both. Don’t feel that you must say yes to a boy just because everyone else has a boyfriend. When the right time and boy come along, you won’t need an answer.

Don’t do anything just because all your friends are doing it. Be your own person.

And keep in mind that boys are a whole lot less mature than girls at this age. Once in college they start closing the gap a bit. But just realize that you’re not really missing much.

Most boys that age are basically “hormones with feet” (translated to mean constantly obsessed with sex) give them some time to grow up a little.

When you’re ready, you’ll know it. I know that sounds a bit trite. But it’s nonetheless true. Follow your own heart and instincts. If your friends are critical of you for it then they’re acquaintances and not friends worth keeping. Take life at your own pace. NEVER be afraid to be an individual. Any brainless spineless nobody can follow the crowd. It takes character to be your own person and march to your own drumbeat. When you look back upon your life, you’ll be very very glad you did.

Sure.

Don’t feel peer pressured into having a boyfriend. When you start to feel a certain type of way about a boy and get butterflies in your stomach when you see that boy, it might be a good indication that you’re ready to try out dating. Don’t rush these things. You have your entire life for boys.

I felt the same way when I was your age. Take your time.