I just want to be good friends
Q⁄A on Human Sexuality for Teenagers

John Ooi Peng Lee
Master of Engineering, University of Singapore
Master in Education, University of Manchester
Reproduced with permission.

Dating and Going Steady

Question 13:

How do I tell her that I just want to be good friends with her, but not to have a steady relationship? The other day she hinted that she would like to go steady with me. We are both sixteen.

Answer 13:

Perhaps you could say something like this: “You're fun to be with and I like you. But we are young and we need to mix around with other people and to develop our interests. I am not ready for a steady one“to“one relationship yet. I would just like us to be friends.” Having said it, you will of course have to mean it. This means that you should not ask her out every week, but go out instead with other friends.