I am a Mother of 3 kids, two of which are teenage boys. I have seen the Christmas gifts with "love" from their girlfriends on them, I've heard the "love you too" on the phone and I think that some parents freak out WAY too easily about it.

We CANNOT forget that we were kids once too, and we ALL went through this. I have taken the time to sit my oldest Son down, who will be 16 this summer about this exact topic. We talked about 'puppy love' and we have talked about what LOVE itself truly means. Teens are not dumb, not are they misguided.

As parents, it is our duty to take the time to talk one on one with our kids about love, sex and what it all means. A first love is a sign of growth, both physically and emotionally. Sometimes I kid around with my Son and tell him, what's her name this week? He knows I'm kidding with him, and keeping the conversation casual helps him to open up more to me.

I realize each child is different and they do not all react the same way, however we are all human and can relate to a lot of the same issues. The word love is thrown around and used so casually by so many, even adults are guilty of it!

If you take the time to explain to them the difference between 'LUV' and 'LOVE', it will also help them to understand how not to abuse the words in their own relationships. I have taught my Son about the value of his virginity, his self esteem as well as his pride. Peer pressure has been around us for ages, and I don't think it will be going away anytime soon.

Your teens first love is nothing to be afraid of. i have met each and very one of my Boy's girlfriends, and I am proud of them for meeting and choosing such lovely young ladies. The longest one has lasted a whole 2 months! That is a long time for a teen right, but in reality it is very little time. This would be the most i heard "love you" about, but they broke up and no more than 2 days later, here comes the new girlfriend. So was it REAL LOVE? Of course not, but this is another lesson in life that our kids have to go through as well as grow through.

Embrace it, watch them and be involved.

Learn more about this author, Tracy Forsyth-Lundy.
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