Young Love

 Dear Ask Micah,

Is it really possible for my 14 year old to be as "in love" as she claims to be.  She's so dramatic about every little tiff and make up.  Its silly to me.  I don't believe a 14 yr old can comprehend what love really is yet. 

Doubtful

Dear Doubtful,

               Maybe you've forgotten, but when you are 14 the love you feel is often even greater than what we feel at 30.  Everything is intensified and magnified and I don't doubt that your 14 year old is hopelessly head over heels in love.  If she's behaving like a dramatic idiot its only because she doesn't yet possess enough experience to understand that every little fight won't lead to the relationship's doom.  In her young new world, the love she feels is the most important thing in her life and any risks to it are as dire to her as being given six months to live would be for us.  It appears silly to those of us who have matured and grown up and realized that even broken hearts mend, but we had to act like that ourselves and go through the same stage she's going through to get to this place.   So just roll your eyes in private and play along with her.  This is an important time in her life where she will need a parent to guide her through the rough spots.  She isn't going to take any advice you give seriously if she feels as  if you don't take her love seriously.  

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