Have you ever seen a funny picture on a phone? It has words on it and makes you laugh. We call these pictures memes. There are lots of romantic love memes on the internet. These are funny pictures about having a crush or liking someone.
But sometimes, romantic love memes are not just funny. Sometimes, they are a little bit sad. They show a picture of someone crying because a boy or girl will not play with them.
Why do we look at these sad and funny pictures? Let me tell you a secret about growing up and liking people.
The “Maybe” Friend: Sometimes, you really like someone. You want to be their best friend or their boyfriend or girlfriend. But they will not say yes. They will not say no, either.
They might text you sometimes. They might play with you during recess. But if someone asks if you are a team, they say, “Maybe.” Or they say, “We are just friends.”
This is very confusing. It hurts your feelings. You give them all your love, but they only give you a little bit back. When you feel this hurt, you might look at romantic love memes on your phone. The meme says exactly how you feel. It makes you feel like you are not alone.
Are You Scared, Too? When someone will not be your real friend, you might think, “I am not the bad guy here! They are!” But we need to look at you, too.
Are you a little scared? It is very scary to say, “I really like you. Do you really like me?” What if they say no? What if they laugh?
Because you are scared, you might pick a “maybe” friend on purpose. A “maybe” friend is safe. They cannot break your heart if they were never really yours to begin with. So, you stay in the confusing game. You look at romantic love memes instead of being brave and talking about your feelings.
The Scary Playground Ride: Think about a really fast ride at a fun park. It goes up, up, up. Then it drops down fast! Your tummy feels funny. It is scary, but it is also fun.
Liking a “maybe” friend feels just like that ride. When they text you, you go way up! You feel so happy. When they ignore you, you drop way down. You feel so sad.
Your brain gets confused. It thinks, “Wow, my tummy feels funny! This must be true love!” But it is not love. It is just a scary ride. That is why romantic love memes about crying over a crush are so popular. They make the scary ride feel normal. But you do not have to ride it.
Liking a Dream: Some kids like a toy because of the pretty box it comes in. They do not care about the toy inside.
Sometimes we do this with people. We look at a boy or a girl, and we see a dream in our head. We think, “If they just acted nicer, they would be perfect!” But you cannot play with a dream. You can only play with the real person right in front of you. If the real person is mean or will not choose you, you have to walk away.
Finding a Safe Blanket: You deserve something much better than a scary ride. You deserve a safe friend.
A safe friend is like a warm, soft blanket on a cold day. They do not play games. They do not hide. They say, “Yes, I am your friend! I like you!” every single day.
Some people think a safe friend is boring. But it is not boring. It is wonderful. You can relax. You do not have to look at romantic love memes to feel better, because your heart will already feel happy and full.
Time to Be Brave: It is time to put the phone down. Stop looking at romantic love memes that make you feel bad about yourself. You are a great kid. You have a big heart.
Do not play the “maybe” game anymore. It is okay to be scared, but you have to be brave. Walk away from the confusing friend. Save your love for someone who wants to be on your team for real. You deserve the very best!
