Dating

If you need to ask, then I might suggest you're not ready. They're not just for Christmas, which might be a good response to your parents. You can't just 'get' one from the shop and discard them when you're done. You certainly don't want one doing this with you.

I would also suggest there's a great deal of difference between a boyfriend and a partner. One might become the other, but over the years I've found that if I care about values which build friendship and matters of respect, then finding someone to 'do life with' to some capacity or another (not as a practice run), takes a little more effort. One needs to be able to say "I'm not interested" or "This makes me uncomfortable" without feeling uncomfortable when in a relationship with another. 

If you need to ask, then I might suggest you're not ready. They're not just for Christmas, which might be a good response to your parents. You can't just 'get' one from the shop and discard them when you're done. You certainly don't want one doing this with you.

I would also suggest there's a great deal of difference between a boyfriend and a partner. One might become the other, but over the years I've found that if I care about values which build friendship and matters of respect, then finding someone to 'do life with' to some capacity or another (not as a practice run), takes a little more effort. One needs to be able to say "I'm not interested" or "This makes me uncomfortable" without feeling uncomfortable when in a relationship with another.