its really hard!

I have been with my boyfriend for just over a year, to be precise its about a year and two weeks. Recently we have been arguing abit. We didn't celebrate our anniversary because i got the impression he didn't really want to. We are only 17-18 yrs old and i know that sometimes he gets abit freaked out when it comes to things like commitment. I know it isn't because he doesn't want to be with me but all of his friends are single currently and i know that sometimes he thinks that i think we are going to be together for ever and i want something really serious but i have explained to him i know we only take it one day at a time and i don't expect years and years of serious relationship seeing as we're both still really young. However i was farely disspaointed that he didn't make any effort towards our anniversary. i didn't say anything though. I brought him as a present later on in the week a nice desinger t-shirt, i thought he would like it because it wan't too serious and i know he would like it. He took the t-shirt told me he liked it but i never really got anything back, no card or anything. Just on the day of our anniversary "happy anniversary" and a kiss. A week later a large group of us went out on a big night out for somebodies birthday. One his friends hurt my feelings and my boyfriend didn't stick up for me. I got abit upset and it did end up in a very big row. Things have only started to back to normal now. i Don't know what to think anymore. We sent a few mobile messages during a few days and he said he didn't want to break up but he does think our good time maybe over. I didn't understand though because all the other times we have had arguments he hasn't ever thought about breaking up. Its like he does want to be with me but doesn't want anything serious. Its really hard because i can't say anything about it to him because i am afraid of what he will say. I have noticed that ever from our big row he doesn't say i love you any more and he is slightly moody and short with me. When i am with him he doesn't really give me much attention. When we are walking round town shopping or on lunch he makes excuses why he doesn't want to hold my hand "i just want to put them in my pockets for abit" is what he says. Yet he says he doesn't want to break up with me. I am so confused i just don't know what to think. What could i do to make him realise how much i mean to him one reason its so hard is because i know i mean alot to him but he just won't show it. i just need something to open him up alittle and i don't know how. I don't want years and years i see it as you take one day at a time because we are still really young.

it is really getting to me and i am feeling really sad about it because i do love him and means so much to me. what bothrse me the most is i know he loves me otherwise he would have broken up with me the night we had the big argument it was the prime time for him to.

Has anyone got any advice please i would really appreciate it!

((((((Emma)))))))
sweetie I have to give you credit...I am very glad that I am not 18 anymore because it is a hard age to be.
I know that this probably won't help but what you are going through is normal. The problem with guys who are 18ish or so is their maturity. 18 year old girls usually are able to handle a deepr level of commitment then an 18 year old guy. Hell I'll tell you a secret I know guys in their 30's that still cannot handle commitments. In other words what you want/expect out of this relationship is probably not what he wants or expects.
I know that this does not make it any easier but you are not alone. Tons of women struggle with the same issue that you are dealing with everday.
Just remember sweetie relationships can change and come and go but there is someone out there who is right for you. If you don't feel like your needs are being met then don't settle. You deserve to be happy even if it is not with your current boyfriend.
I have been in your exact place and I strongly feel that everything happens for a reason.

Stay strong,
Jessica

You are in this snowglobe. It is encovered in glass and secure. But one day someone comes and shakes the globe and the pieces go flying everywhere. Now they will eventually settle but they won't be the way they were before and they can never be that way again.