Q&A for How to Know When It's the Right Age to Have a Boyfriend

You're not ready for a relationship if you're unable to set boundaries for yourself. Before dating anyone, you need to be very clear about the kinds of behavior that you will and won't accept, and be comfortable asserting those boundaries.

Make sure that you're educated about sex, sexual assault, and healthy relationships. It's really important to understand the different types of consensual sex, the appropriate age to have sex, the dangers of STDs, and ways to keep yourself safe. You should also know what qualifies as a healthy relationship, and what counts as sexual assault.

Ask your teachers or parents for advice if you feel comfortable enough. If you'd rather not approach the topic with them, talk to an older cousin or sibling for advice. You can also do your own research on trustworthy medical and psychological sites.

You know how to treat yourself with kindness and respect. If you don't have how to treat yourself well, you won't be discerning enough to find someone who will do the same. Spend plenty of time getting to know your likes, dislikes, and what makes you tick—that way, you can search for someone who shares your interests and treats you the way that you want to be treated.

If you think he likes you back, you could ask him or ask him to do something fun with you and your friends. You might need to wait for him to ask you out, but while you're being patient you can be yourself and wait to see if he likes you for being you. Don't try too hard to get his attention or you might look desperate.

It's probably best to have a conversation with your dad to find out why you think he's overprotective. Maybe suggest having a father-daughter dinner night where the two of you go out and discuss dating and both of your expectations.

Ultimately, you need to respect your parents rules for now. You can keep the conversation open and tell them about your maturity levels and what you'd like out of a relationship, but since you're still young, they have the final say on when you can date.

Defining the relationship (and whether or not you're exclusive) is an important part of the dating process. On your next date, casually ask him where he sees this relationship going or if he's talking to anyone else right now. If he's only seeing you and he wants things to be serious, then you can ask him if he wants to be exclusive.

While it might be scary now, it's important to be honest with your parents (especially about relationships). If your mom finds out that you're dating someone later on, she'll probably be more upset than if you tell her now. Let her know that you have a boyfriend, and tell her about all his great qualities. Hopefully, she'll listen to you and be more open to you dating.