For all the parents out there....

[The Poultry Peanut]

Quote:
Hey my mom said I can't date till I'm 40 LOL

 

[TipsyDog]

My DD was allowed at 16. Yes, there were guidelines. I think 16 is an appropriate age. You're going to do what you want anyway - let's be honest here. Your parents can't watch you 24/7.

 

[deb1]

Quote:
This isn't true of all kids.

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

I think it depends. My oldest is 10 so we aren't there yet but I feel like we will let her date at 16.

I think if the daughter in question is a pretty responsible girl, the boy comes to our house to meet him, he takes her out in a public setting, and brings her back home by 9PM then it should be fine.

If I don't like the boy then it is a NO GO. He has to be parent approved or he gets to meet my 30-06

 

[Nupine]

My parents tell me 16. Well, sometimes it is a little varied. My dad says it may be later, and several times my mom has tried to set me up with like jocks who are 2-3 years older than me, in which I think she is crazy. I am 14 right now, and very mature. I have never had a boyfriend, and I have a few guy friends, but no one has really came along who I would date, well a couple but they are the ones who are so ''unavailable'' in my opinion that the closest I will get to them is looking at them from 20 ft away. lol I think 16 is a good age, if they are ready. I think I will be ready, but one of my older sister's was not. She had, what seemed to be a rather nice bf, but started sneaking him in the house at night, and soon ended up pregnant, etc. It all depends on the person they are dating too. There is one person I would feel comfortable going to the movies with even now, no problem. And others I would not.
Ashlyn

 

[TipsyDog]

Quote:
This isn't true of all kids.

IMO - yes. I was 16 and there were many things my parents never knew. Same with my friends and we were all decent kids. It's just a fact of life and part of growing up as well as parenting. Quite frankly, I really don't want to know every single detail of my DD life at that age. IMO it defeats the purpose of me parenting for 16 years. At that age I'd hope they already know what you expect and right from wrong. It's just guidance at that point.

 

[deb1]

Quote:
This isn't true of all kids.

IMO - yes. I was 16 and there were many things my parents never knew. Same with my friends and we were all decent kids. It's just a fact of life and part of growing up as well as parenting. Quite frankly, I really don't want to know every single detail of my DD life at that age. IMO it defeats the purpose of me parenting for 16 years. At that age I'd hope they already know what you expect and right from wrong. It's just guidance at that point.

I can only say that I did not sneak around behind my mom's back and I know several people that did not.

Yes, I knew kids that did sneak around but the majority of my close friends followed their parents rules.

 

[agnes_day]

Quote:
This isn't true of all kids.

IMO - yes. I was 16 and there were many things my parents never knew. Same with my friends and we were all decent kids. It's just a fact of life and part of growing up as well as parenting. Quite frankly, I really don't want to know every single detail of my DD life at that age. IMO it defeats the purpose of me parenting for 16 years. At that age I'd hope they already know what you expect and right from wrong. It's just guidance at that point.

a great deal of 16 year olds dont have the maturity though to see the long term effects of their choices, which is why we as parents have to set boundaries, and not just assume that they will always do what is right.

 

[TipsyDog]

Quote:
IMO - yes. I was 16 and there were many things my parents never knew. Same with my friends and we were all decent kids. It's just a fact of life and part of growing up as well as parenting. Quite frankly, I really don't want to know every single detail of my DD life at that age. IMO it defeats the purpose of me parenting for 16 years. At that age I'd hope they already know what you expect and right from wrong. It's just guidance at that point.

a great deal of 16 year olds dont have the maturity though to see the long term effects of their choices, which is why we as parents have to set boundaries, and not just assume that they will always do what is right.

OK - to clarify 1 more time... I didn't say "sneak around" and I didn't say no boundaries. I guess I'm just a realist.

 

[Whispering Winds]

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This is exactly right; if you read some of the young girl's magazines, or the other women mags, kids as young as 11 are having sex. And, know where? So many parents work they are coming home after school and using their own bedrooms. It depends upon the kids, and after raising 5 teenagers and counseling a dozen others, my DH and I decided that we wouldn't hesitate one second of going into a party, or whatever and embarrassing the poop right out of one of our own. Might have saved us a few grey hairs!! My DH and I also snicker because most of ours have kids that are teens or reaching that era really fast and they already see what they have to deal with!! Lovin' every minute of it.