How young is too young to be in a romantic relationship?

I am 16 years old and have finished my secondary education. I am what a psychologist would call an early developer because I look like a full-grown lady and men make passes at me. Nobody believes me when I tell them my age. I am tired of telling people that I am still what my mum calls a minor.

Recently, a guy who has long graduated from the University approached me in the church and proposed to be my friend and have a relationship with me. I am a Christian and my family is born-again. My parents would practically skin me alive if I look at a guy let alone talk to one.

As I’m talking to you, I can hear my mother’s voice warning me to focus on my education and forget relationships for now. She is always threatening hell-fire and damnation whenever issues of realtionship crops up in our discussion. I am a 21stcentury teenager. I cannot approach my mother with discussions like this. That’s why I am asking you. Please help me. How young is too young to be in a romantic relationship? Ufoma, Warri

Dear Ufoma,

Your mother is right in trying to protect you because she doesn’t want you to make any mistake that would scuttle your future. Often, the younger we are, the less mature we are due to a lack of life experience. When we are just beginning to figure out who we are, we may not be firmly grounded enough to form solid romantic attachments and may be more prone to making unwise decisions that can leave us with emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual damage.

Being in a relationship puts on