Date for the Right Reasons
When considering your options it’s important to ask yourself one question: Does this person make you happy? Why are you dating them? Often, teens can get pleasure out of dating someone their parents really dislike. It’s exciting to make parents angry to some teens. This is no reason to date someone, though. If this is the real reason you are dating this person, realize that there is no future in the relationship, and it will probably end in heartbreak or hurt feelings. Similarly, you may be really attracted to someone who fits in really well with your friends, and date them because your friends like them. This is also no reason to date someone. When you are taking about your girlfriend or boyfriend, one thing matters the most.  Do they make you happy?  Doing new and exciting things may be fun, but is it a good idea to date someone just because they are older or because they have a nice car? No. A good boyfriend or girlfriend has similar interests as you, and is someone that you are happy to be around because of who they are on the inside.

Approach the Disapproval
When thinking about dating someone your friends and parents don’t approve of, there are several things you can do.  Break up with the person, try to get your parents and/or friends to like this person, or if you want, you can try to balance the two lives without making any changes, which may be pretty tough. Talk to your friends, maybe they have experienced something like this themselves. Talk to your parents, also, and understand why and if they are having problems with who you choose to date. Don’t try to suffer through these issues without talking to others.  While it may seem like they are trying to hurt you, because they want you to stop seeing someone, they are only doing it because they care about you. Often, when you talk to them instead of just ignoring them, you can find some middle ground.    

Make the Final Decision
Ultimately, you have to make the decision whether you want to continue dating someone your friends and/or parents don’t accept. It’s not to say that they’ll never approve, but for now decide if it’s worth the hassle of leading separate lives. In addition, pay close attention to the reasons your loved ones have for expressing their concerns disapproval of your mate. Maybe they see something that you can’t grasp because you are too into the person.