The 4 guys you’ll (probably) date

Dear Avery,

My first crush was in 3rd grade. I distinctly remember wanting to sit next to a certain boy during story-telling time. I also remember having no idea WHY that was. The rest was history. Many more crushes were in store for me,  and boyfriends to come into my life. BUT, I was not that kind of girl. I was rather prude. I did not like to kiss very much because I thought it was gross and I hated how other kids would watch you (Come on folks, I’m a lady!). I did love to hold a boy’s hand… that was magical for me. I did date a lot though. I found that simply telling a boy that you liked them worked. It made their job easier, and I was never ashamed if the feeling was not mutual. I had guts, lots of guts.

Why does this matter to you? Because this will probably happen to you. You may not be as boy crazy as I was, but you will experience butterflies, giddiness, and heartbreak at many points of your life. I wanted to dissect my own love life to show you where I came from… It’s a journey, a fun journey. Enjoy it.

Here are the 4 types of boys that stood out most because they were all so different from each other.

The Romantic –

He was 14 going on 35. Treated me like a princess. Spoke softly and wrote me heartfelt notes. He once had put 6 roses in each of my 6 classes for our 6 month anniversary. (What 14-year-old boy does that?). Very sweet, very thoughtful.

• Verdict: I was 14 myself, I wasn’t ready for this kind of attention. I didn’t know how to return this type of affection.

• Hindsight: This is type of boy boosts confidence because he treats you so well and thinks so highly of you. I wish I would have dated him later in my high school experience where I could have really appreciated him.

Price Charming –

This is the “too good to be true” guy. He was the insanely smart athlete. He played football, and I cheerleaded. It was like a movie. He was beautiful, funny, nerdy, genuinely sweet, and drove my favorite car. And oh my gosh, he was one grade older! Whhhhhat?! I could not believe he even liked me. Me?!

• Verdict: I did not feel like I was good enough for him. I figured that he would eventually end it, so I did first. I was 16, and this is a tough confidence time in your life.

• Hindsight: If this type of boy makes you feel worth his time, then he deserves your time. Don’t fall into the “I don’t deserve him” thought. He liked you for a reason, so be confident in that decision.

The Bad Boy –

Every girl will fall into this trap. He drives a fast car, has a tough exterior, and doesn’t care what anyone thinks of him. They appear edgy and adventurous. But let’s be real, he is still a boy and still has parents who oversee his life — he’s not that tough. And he is still afraid of your father. And somewhere along the way, you want to “fix” this guy. You want to prove to everyone who was against this (which will be almost everyone) that you see something “different”. Nope, they are right. Listen to them.

• Verdict: The problem with the “bad boy” is, he is usually argumentative (apart of the image). You fight, you make up. You fight, you make up. I mistook this for passion when it was simply a disaster.

• Hindsight: This lasted way too long. While fun for a while, this was not meant for a long term relationship. Mark my words. Don’t fall for this.

{Ahh, young love. So fun because you learn SO much from it.}

After those relationships and learning more about myself through them, I found my partner.  I firmly believe that I knew exactly what I wanted in a husband because of my past experiences. I married:

The Best Friend –

He is kind, thoughtful, witty, knows everything about you, and treats you like an equal. He is too good for me.

• Verdict: He is the romantic + the prince charming + the practical.

• Hindsight: I was right about him. 🙂

So, Aves, here’s to a lifetime ahead of love and adventures. Be true to yourself. If they treat you poorly, I hope you know the right time to walk away. If they treat you well, I hope you enjoy every second of that and return the favor.  At the end of the day, I hope you feel respected and loved.

With love,

Aunt Megs