Saying "I love you"

I know this is different with everyone, but how long was everyone in their relationships before they told their "partners" they loved them? 1 month? 6 months? 1 year?
How many people have you told, and how many people have you meant it to? (I know we all love our friends and family, but I am just talking about romantic relationships.)

Just wondering...

3 people. The first two I thought I did, but who in high school really knows what love is? The last time it was after a few hours of officially dating, but we had been friends since I was 15 and had both liked each other for about a year and a half before we had the guts to act on it. It was for real because we got married about 2 years later and had been married for 2 and a half years.

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1 person. I'm not totally sure how far we were in. We had been on and off for about a year before that, I think we were probably 2 or 3 months into a regular, steady relationship when the words were first uttered. I didn't say it first, he did. We were laying on the grass looking at the stars and talking and he rolls over and says, "I love you Colleen." I was 16, and a little freaked out, so I sort of giggled and brushed it off. I wasn't ready for that step at all, I wasn't sure if I loved him, I knew I liked him and that I liked fooling around with him but I had no idea what love was. He said it a couple more times that evening, and finally, when he was kissing me good night, he said it and I gave the reciprocal "I love you" response. I didn't mean it, but I was feeling sort of cornered, and confused, and I had absolutely no idea what to do to not hurt his feelings.

But, it wasn't all for naught. I did end up falling in love with him, and we ended up staying together for 6 years.

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Robb, when I was single I usually found that made them RUN!

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i didn't say it worked, elfie!

somms,

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Only once. And I meant it.

Well, twice if you count my "girlfriend" in high school. I don't.

Those words do not come easily off my tongue.

I tell everyone close to me I love them. All the time. Because the last time I didnt, he was gone before I got the chance. I have an immortal fear that the last thing I say to a person before they leave, whether it be dying or just me knowing Ill never see them again, will be something negative. It was once, and its one of the biggest regrets of my life. And I dont have many regrets. I will never let that happen again

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Magical_Ms._Mistoffeles_72: So do you say it to everyone you date or are romantically involved with? (And does that scare them away?) Because the original question did stipulate that we not include friends and family in our response. I, too, say "I love you" to my friends all the time. And to my family, of course. Every day. =)

Heh. Well, my husband just sort of smiled at me when I said it, and let me sweat it out for two whole days (the longest two days of my life) before he told me that he loved me, too. (AARGH!) I've asked him why he did that, and he says he knew he loved me from about the second week we'd been dating...but when I said it, he didn't want me to think he was saying it to me just to "say it back." Again, AARGH! I mean, I thought I would die during those two days while I was waiting, wondering if he was gonna dump me! Don't do me any more favors like that, OK, sweetheart? lol

I do not say it easily.

My first real boyfriend, who later became my fiance, said it after we had dated for two months. I said it back and thought I meant it. I was 17. In retrospect, it was the worst 3 years of my life.

The next time for me was my last girlfriend. We were both very very cautious because we had a good friendship that neither of us expected it to develop into a relationship. We were on the phone and she said, "look, this has turned into something I wasn't expecting and I have feelings for you that I never really thought I would have." I told her I felt the same. We basically said it without really saying it...lol. Before we hung up she said, "I love you" fast and the line went dead. Of course I had to call her back and tell her that she had cheated and that I loved her, too. It was very funny. Then there was the proposal that started with her taking my hands and saying, "Now, don't freak out." God she is great...lol. We were together a little over three years. I still love her, but the reasons we thought we wouldn't fall in love in the first place ended up revealing that we really shouldn't be a couple. Love sucks.

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My husband and i both knew from the first date this was the one. He asked me to marry him after six weeks and we got married five months after that.

Our daughter was born on our eighth wedding anniversary nineteen years ago.

The chap who wrote "Zing went the strings of my heart", he knew: - )

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Erica: yes romantically involved with, and sometimes it does scare them away, but then, if it does they arent worth it anyway

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