For many years, the stereotype of teenage relationships has lingered. Girls are constantly getting criticized for spending too much time with their boyfriends, or including them in their life plans, or having a boyfriend who doubles as a best friend. As a teenage girl who is almost 19 years old and has been in a relationship for almost three years, I can honestly say that these criticisms linger on a consistent basis. Regardless of the comments or sneers I receive, my boyfriend is my best friend...and that's okay.
I always have a shoulder to lean on and someone to talk to.
While your girlfriends will always have your back when you need them, there's a different sense of security and trust found within your boyfriend. If you've had a bad day, he will be the first one to do anything he can to make it better. With that, however, comes the ability to talk to him about anything and everything that has happened. Whether your friend stabbed you in the back or your boss is being a real jerk, your boyfriend instantly becomes one of the girls who you can gossip with and talk to about anything that happens.
Having a constant in the midst of change is a beautiful thing.
I moved to college yesterday. I have been an official college student for about 24 hours and while my family will always be present in my life, there is a great deal of change occurring. Personally, I moved over 1000 miles away from home, I won't see my family until Thanksgiving, and I am in this little town that I know next to nothing about. Sometimes, not even my family can ease the pain of changes because everything is changing with them too. I still love them and they still love me, but everything is different now. Despite all of that, my boyfriend remains my constant. Whether it's the middle of the afternoon and I'm stressing about how to put my room together or I need advice about life in general; change doesn't interfere with any of that because he remains my constant through it all.
Who likes trying to impress people anyways?
At the end of the day when last minute plans occur, the last thing I want to do is dress up and put on makeup to go out on an elaborate date. Don't get me wrong, I love dressing up and going out as much as the next teenage girl, but there's something to be said about a relationship that doesn't require all that extra stuff. My Friday nights consist of sitting on my bed and watching Criminal Minds on Netflix with my boyfriend next to me. As Drake would say "sweatpants, hair tied, chilling with no makeup on" has become my go to when it comes to my boyfriend. I don't need to impress him or put on a big show, because I know that the real me is more than enough.
It's just easy.
You want to order a pizza? Great. You're in the mood to sit in bed and eat Chipotle all night? Fine by me. You want to talk about the future and where we're going? Awesome. No matter what the conversation or situation may be, having a boyfriend who is also your best friend is just easy. Everything becomes so natural and effortless that you don't even have to try. There is never any anxiety or worry about how the night will play out or what he'll think of you if you burp in front of him, because he'll turn around and do the same thing in your face five minutes later. There's never any shame in what you do or do not do, because he'll love you no matter what.
Despite the constant negativity that revolves around a significant other doubling as your best friend, I beg to differ. Over the past 3 years now, I have learned that I love dating my best friend. I could never imagine life any other way.
