[MsNobleEleanor]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to TeenHelp. It's not easy to date and know exactly what you want in a partner as everyone is so different from another. However, you only know yourself the best.

When you decide to date, what is helpful is asking yourself; what are you looking for in a partner? It's a vague starting point. From there, you look at what your values are, your boundaries (what you are comfortable with and not comfortable with), what age group, the gender, would you consider your partner in a previous relationship and was divorced and possibly has a child?, or is still in contact with their mother of their child?, or completely single (never married or kids), unemployed/employed, their career.

These are some things that could come up with dating.

When dating there's flaws in the other person, we learn about them as we progress through the relationship. Would there be any flaws that you couldn't handle and would be a breaking point. Some flaws could be; they are simply a messy person and don't clean up after themselves, leaving the toilet seat up, crumbs on the counter, dishes in the sink, clothes on the floor and not in the hamper, so on.

When caring for someone, how much would you dedicate yourself? How much care would you expect your partner to do for you? There needs to be a balance in a relationship for it to be healthy. If it becomes you doing all the caring and your partner not doing any, it's not an equal partnership. Think about what kind of care you would want to receive and give.

Communication is very important in relationships, it's how everyone is able to give information back and forth or one another, it is the same in relationships. Honesty and communication are important; respect and caring are important.

I know I have given a lot of information, if you have any questions about anything that I have said, please let me know.

Take care.