by Michy Lynn

Created on: August 09, 2009

As a mom of two kids, one who has just passed her teen years and one who is just moving into his, one of the questions they both have asked me is about love, relationships, and of course, sex. I like to think of myself as a somewhat progressive parent, in that I have no problems discussing real-life issues and my own experiences with my children. I'm honest with them, with age appropriateness, about my experiences in love and relationships.

There are a lot of relationship scenarios and situations even adults don't understand. If adults can't even understand these 'grownup' things, I think it's hardly fair that teens are expected to understand them.

How to Know When You're in Love: Love Doesn't Make Sense

The good news is, you don't really need to understand these things. In fact, if there's one lesson I can teach a teen it's that: Love never really does make sense.

Seriously, don't try to make sense out of it. At the same time, though, you're going to feel things and experience things that you must act upon or choose not to act upon. Your parents and other adults have all probably told you that you should wait until you're in love before you consider serious relationships, before you consider marriage, and before you consider sex.

So how do you know you're in love?

It's a hard question to answer. I suppose that I could tell you that you just know. That's probably what other adults will tell you... you'll just... know. But you know what? Sometimes that's not true. And then what happens if you're feeling the same feelings for more than one person? How can you tell which one is love?

These aren't easy questions, and frankly, there's not any easy answers either. Let's try to answer them though, best as they can be answered.

How to Know When You're in Love: Puppy Love Fades, Feelings Stay

Ah, the rush of attraction. Even adults love it! When you see him at the locker and he winks at you. When she walks by and brushes her hair across your hand on the desk. You get goosebumps, you feel the flip flop in your stomach. It's easy to walk around during the day in a daze, smiling like a silly fool, forgetting to bring your homework home, and jumping every time the phone rings.

This, however, is not love. This is attraction, infatuation, puppy-love. Eventually, the big rush of it fades, and that's when you can ask yourself, "Do I still feel something special for this person?"

How to Know When You're in Love: Trust

Can you trust this girl with your secrets? Are you willing to tell him

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