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When I was in Year 5 I used to date many girls. Claire, Emma, Kat, Nikki, Kerrin… the list somewhat doesn’t end. It involved holding hands, telling each other we like each other and then in an hour or so we break up. And the cycle begins again.

When I was in Year 9 I dated only a couple of people. It would begin with flirting, a date or two. Talking, getting to know each other. Then after a few weeks I asked him out, and then we were boyfriends.

These days I follow the rules seeing, dating and then ‘being with’ someone. Are they different? For example, lets say I’m seeing a guy called X. After a few catchups, dinners, etc I would consider us seeing each other. I would say at this point it isn’t necessarily exclusive though may be expected. Soon as the catchups become more frequent and you start meeting each others friends, family and colleagues- I would consider that then to be dating.

Then, after a couple of months I would then consider asking them out formally. Becoming boyfriends and girlfriends.

I would say that now at the ripe old age of 21, I am more prepared and serious about going into a proper relationship. One that may last for the rest of my days. But when I reflect on my school days andschool children, I wonder what drives them to mock the social constructs of relationships. From what I remember of High School the term ‘boyfriend’ or ‘girlfriend’ hardly holds much value, and people seem to cheat and sleep around regardless. In Primary School (generally) there is no sex perse, and so the relationships are based on what? Who treats each other the nicest?

I do wonder sometimes about the social constructions which dictates our children to conform to monogamous relationships. Are they mimicking what they see in movies, and at home? And if this is the case can the high level of divorce and domestic abuse really be an ideal- or acceptable- way for children to grow up?

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