Romantic love: What is it?

Perhaps this: some compelling mix of emotional attraction, affection, and attachment in a relationship that becomes positively consuming at the time. Nothing else feels like it matters so much, or is as painful as losing what one has found. It’s a thrilling and scary experience—so much to gain and so much to lose.

While I believe most adolescents do not have this romantic love experience during the high school years, some of them do. And although most of these do not mature into enduring love, the experience still has much to teach for the conduct of committed relationships later on, when "in-love" opens the door to love of lasting long-term value.

At the time, for parents to keep in mind, is how in-love gives the infatuated relationship ultimate value. "This is what matters most!"

Among the hard lessons........

© Psychology Today