Questions: Relationships

I met an amazing guy, who is my age.
My dad does not agree with the relationship because he thinks I'm being lustful and emotional and taking my focus off my education, which is funny because he never took the time to ask me how I'm going with my studies but the minute he knows I'm in a relationship he says that even after I told him that my grades have improved and that I go better in school ever since I've been with this guy.

I have an African dad, and most African people or at least Nigerian people, when they hear relationship they think immediately of sex outside of marriage. And me being in a relationship at 18 is like me being rebellious and thinking I can do whatever I want because I'm 18, that's what my dad thinks. But the reality is that I met this guy now at 18 and I couldn't let the chance go.

He tries talking me out of this relationship he does not care about the fact that I'm genuinely happy and that many things have improved in my life... for once I do not have to deal with everything alone. All he cares about is me being submissive and taking his word as law.

My aunty called and said the same thing and basically that I'm too young and that I should just focus on my education. I just feel stressed, overwhelmed and misunderstood.

Even when it comes to lust or sex... as a Christian couple we talked about these things and we have boundaries and our thoughts aren't focused on those things at all because we believe that things like that should be done in the confines of marriage.

But yet, nothing, almost as if no one other than my mom and close friends understand.

I feel overwhelmed because I've always wanted a guy like the guy I currently have right now yet it's like I can't be happy.

My dad, and my aunty and I'm sure my other close relatives will continue to say the same thing, they make me feel young and stupid, I'm even tired of standing up for myself and relationship. It is exhausting, I just want to be happy, I don't know what to do.

Have you been in love? How did it feel and how did you know?

I'm trying to understand what romatic love is more specifically since I think pretty much everyone can tell what sexual love is. Do you picture being in love as going on dates, hand holding, etc? Or spend you life with someone and doing everyday things together?

Going Anon since I've asked too many questions.

i see so many girls 20-30 having babies & I see their mom so happy & taking care of baby & congratulating daughter or cry of happiness. My parents are the type to beat me to death if I’m pregnant at 25-26. All cuz I’m not married but I see many girls have baby then marry few years later. I got bad luck and no guy is racing to marry me. Some girls marry fast at 18. Many girls cry and have no clue when they’ll be proposed to. You can’t force it. Even being married you can be cheated on, ik many women married & cheated on but they get pregnant again fast after guy cheats. My parents are type to disown me & beat me for having a baby at age 26. I live alone. I wish I had chill loving parents 😞

In my relationship we have mutual affection, respect and trust. I have compassionate love towards him, we spend quality time, shared common interests, have a good communication, have no arguments at all and I'm fond of him. After all infatuation fades eventually and you don't live out of that.

I don't feel passionate love for him. The infatuation stage never developed. I'm not infatuated (in love) with him.