If you’re reading this article, chances are you’ve approached the teenage years and your parents are totally opposed to the idea of having a relationship.

Or maybe you’re deeply in love with your soulmate for life, but there’s no way your parents can find out.

Either way, I’m here to help you out! Don’t stress out, it’s extremely difficult and will most definitely mess with your guilty conscious and possibly even your religious values, but it’s manageable. Anything can be done for “love,” right? Right.

Follow these steps if you want to hide your relationship from your family the right way:

1. Don’t take a ton of pictures together

I know it’s pretty tempting to want to take pictures and post them all over social media whenever you do something cute, but that’s probably one of the worst things you can do.

It’s easy for people to send screenshots, and eventually, it can get to the wrong person – so avoid this. And if you do choose to, just don’t post them online. To be on the super safe side, store them in a secret vault app, just in case you get your phone taken away and your parents look through it. But whatever you do, don’t post ANYTHING on social media.

Just because your Instagram/Twitter accounts are private, doesn’t mean your photos are on the Internet forever for the world to see.

2. Avoid crowded public places where you’re likely to see a family member/ family friend

I’m not saying that you should never hang out in public, but be careful of where you choose to go. Driving an hour a way is probably a better option if you live in a town filled with family members or family friends likely to snitch on you.

You really don’t want to risk being caught.

3. No PDA (Public Displays of Affection)

Hand holding? Hugging? Kissing? Walking super closely together? Not in public.

Imagine if someone close to your family or your parents saw that: it would not end well, trust me. Any possible suspicion of the two of you together could possibly lead you to your metaphorical death bed. It’s not worth the risk.

4. Change his name on your phone

You might not think this is super serious, but chances are your phone is lying around your family members occasionally. No one has their phone on them every second of the day. And chances are that if your parents see the contact “BABE *insert 400 emojis*”, they will definitely get suspicious.

And then they’ll go through your phone and interrogate you until you spill the truth and then your life will never be the same.

5. Ask your friends to cover for you

Whether it be school dances, parties, or simple hang outs in the car alone at night- you need a good cover who will always have your back and who your parents adore. Without this trusted confidant, there’s no chance you can just leave the house without a legitimate plan.

Trust me, this step is very important.

6. Avoid conversations about him at all times

Let’s face it. Your friends know about it, his/her friends know about it, their friend’s friends know about it. Everyone eventually finds out. When your friends ask how you guys are doing, don’t say anything.

Remember, it’s a SECRET relationship for a reason, so be careful who you tell.

7. Stay in control of your relationship

You’re the one keeping the big secret, or maybe the both of you are, but in order to make it work one person needs to stay in control at all times. The more risk you take, the worse. And you need someone to advise you to do the right thing and avoid any major risks.

8. Stay true to yourself and follow your gut.

There may be a very solid reason that you’re hiding your relationship from your family.

But the truth is, if it doesn’t feel right, then it’s not meant to be. The perfect relationship falls into place exactly how it should. Always follow your gut when it comes to relationships, especially when it involves constantly lying and sneaking away.