I have been dating my boyfriend for more than two months. We get along great, but we also have our differences. For instance: sex. I am not a virgin anymore, but I decided that I want to wait until marriage to have sex again. My boyfriend gets angry when I don't go further when we are fooling around. He always throws back the fact that I am not a virgin anymore and that I should sleep with him, and he asks how come I have slept with a couple of other guys yet won't have sex with him. It hurts me when he says all that. I regret having sex in the past because I was so young and didn't know what I was doing and now that I am older I want to get it right. I want to wait until I'm in a committed relationship with someone who truly loves me and who I love deeply as well. What should I do or say to my boyfriend?
Stacey, 19, Texas
We realize that couples can sometimes have their differences (look at James Carville and Mary Matalin, a pair from total opposite sides of the political spectrum who managed to find love!), but to us, what's going on with you and your boyfriend doesn't sound like a difference. It sounds like he's just not respecting you or your choices. If he did respect your decision to not have sex, he'd say something like, "I wish we could have sex because I'd like to with you, but I understand that you want to wait, and I respect that." But his getting angry, pressuring you and making you feel badly that you had sex in the past isn't okay. It's hurtful, and not something that a person who claims to care about you should be doing.
You've clearly talked to him and explained your position, and he most likely can tell he makes you feel badly when he questions you repeatedly when you two are together, yet he keeps it up. No one has a right to push you to do something you're not ready to do (whether or not you might have done something with someone else in the past). If he does, it's abusive behavior.
We're sorry if we sound harsh, but the reality is that you're not with someone who is treating you with decency or kindness, and we think it's time to ditch this guy and find someone who does respect your choice to abstain from sex until marriage.
Andrea Pyros
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