What age is appropriate for you kid to start dating?

ninerbuff
ninerbuff Posts: 48,973 Member
edited October 3 in Chit-Chat
I know it's subjective, and my daughter has a LONG way before this happens, but it's always good to hear ideas from parents who have already ran into this. So hit it!!!!
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Replies

  • alleyag
    alleyag Posts: 142
    No kids yet. Sorry niner. But when I have a daughter? 35. :)
  • p0pr0cksnc0ke
    p0pr0cksnc0ke Posts: 1,283 Member
    man... I dated when I was 15ish..
    But I would prefer my kids wait longer. Like 25 sounds good.. That whole karma thing scares the bajeebus out of me.
  • _Ben
    _Ben Posts: 1,608 Member
    As a 20 year old, really dating in my opinion, as a guy, shouldnt happen until 16, when you can drive yourself places. Anything before is just childish crushes, saying you are boyfriend and girlfriend, when you have only maybe held hands, never talk to eachother, whatever. Everything before, getting drove by your parents, etc is not only akward for the kids, but really akward for the parents too.

    Note: This is coming from a serious place, not the whole irritating and annoying, my daughter is never gonna date because she is not allowed to have a life, or live in any fashion like a normal human being. I feel as though as soon as this reply posts there will be 5 people who said exactly that, but Im just saying, these people are being simply rediculous, and are not working to actually help the poster, they just think that joking about overparenting is cute.
  • kapeluza
    kapeluza Posts: 3,434 Member
    40
  • ASPhantom
    ASPhantom Posts: 637 Member
    Haven't made my mind up yet. But, I know when I disagree with someone. lol... Recently had a friends who posted that her 11 year old son was out on a date with his girlfriend. They went to dinner and a movie.

    Ummmm...NO!
  • chocolattahottie
    chocolattahottie Posts: 104
    my husband would say 35, I'm more realistic (or at least I think so) in saying 17.
  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
    Let's see, he's 2 now, so I'm thinking 25 . . .

    (I met my husband when I was 13, refused to date him because I knew I was going to marry him and needed to save that relationship for later. kissed him a lot, but dated . . . we'll say a few guys . . . started dating M when I was 25, married at 29)
  • maab_connor
    maab_connor Posts: 3,927 Member
    42.
  • jrich1
    jrich1 Posts: 2,408 Member
    I have 2 daughters and 40 sounds about right!
  • Pollywog39
    Pollywog39 Posts: 1,730 Member
    Having raised two daughters, their father and I decided that they could date when they were 16. They KNEW this, at an early age. And although we STUCK to that, they tried to sneak around a bit........and generally got caught!

    I'll never forget the time that my eldest (who was about 15 at the time) was spending the night at her best friend's house - well, we also had a rule that the kids had to call home around 10 PM when they were over-night like this (that was my x's rule......but what the heck, it worked). She didn't call.

    So, he asked me to call their house - Mom answered and said "Oh, the girls went out to a movie with their boyfriends". WHAT???? Hubby got on the line, found out which theatre they went to, WENT to the theatre, into each movie, calling out her name! Yikes (I was home with the younger child, so didn't witness this ;)

    She and the bf had left the theatre, and when The Princess got back to her friend's house, Dad was there to take her home. Needless to say, she didn't try that again ;)
  • _Ben
    _Ben Posts: 1,608 Member
    Wow, every poster said it. Wow. I just cant understand people
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I started dating at age 12, and had my first long term relationship (1 year) at age 14. But I would say 13-15.
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    13
  • MinnesotaManimal
    MinnesotaManimal Posts: 642 Member
    Im going to push my daughter to be a NUN. also I planted shrubs with the biggest thorns I could find under her window the summer she was born.

    ok so probably won't push the NUN thing... but I think that 16-17 is the earliest that would be appropriate..... and no war paint (make up) till she is old enough to have a job and buy it herself.
  • amadapooky76
    amadapooky76 Posts: 25
    40

    Yep, I like 40!!
  • igora_soma
    igora_soma Posts: 486
    I was a late bloomer at 18, I think 17/18 is a good age. You are a little more self-assured! It's good to have an open dialogue though, I wish I could have talked to my mom about these things but I didn't think she would understand! Better to have your kid come to you with questions than someone who is less informed!
  • GURLEY_GIRL3
    GURLEY_GIRL3 Posts: 347 Member
    MY DAUGHTER IS 15..SHE CAN DOUBLE DATE W/ FRIENDS IF I KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND THERE FAMILY. SHE CAN DATE AT 16
  • bry_all01
    bry_all01 Posts: 3,100 Member
    whenever yoiu are ready to start having grandkids. I KEED!!!! *That was seriously meant as a JOKE. I watch too many Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant shows, sorry if it came off as offensive, but it really was meant as a joke.


    Oh, my dating age was 16. My parents were FIRM about the age, no budging them.
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    Probably 16 for real dating.
  • YukonJoy
    YukonJoy Posts: 1,279 Member
    Just remember parents - the forbidden fruit is sweeter.
  • manorexicmarshmallow
    manorexicmarshmallow Posts: 80 Member


    Note: This is coming from a serious place, not the whole irritating and annoying, my daughter is never gonna date because she is not allowed to have a life, or live in any fashion like a normal human being. I feel as though as soon as this reply posts there will be 5 people who said exactly that, but Im just saying, these people are being simply rediculous, and are not working to actually help the poster, they just think that joking about overparenting is cute.

    Wait until you have a daughter of your own, then we'll see if you think that sentiment is simply rediculous [sic]
  • chocolateandvodka
    chocolateandvodka Posts: 1,850 Member
    Let's see, he's 2 now, so I'm thinking 25 . . .

    (I met my husband when I was 13, refused to date him because I knew I was going to marry him and needed to save that relationship for later. kissed him a lot, but dated . . . we'll say a few guys . . . started dating M when I was 25, married at 29)

    LOL i love this story!
  • EpiGaiaRepens
    EpiGaiaRepens Posts: 824 Member
    i wasn't "allowed" to date until I was 16- which honestly really negatively impacted my life. By the time i was 16, everyone else had been dating and I was sort of viewed as just not someone who dates.

    I think 12-13 is fine, but i also think at this young of an age we are talking about a chaperoned experience. Most important is you talking to your kids and figuring out where they are at because honestly even when I was 16, I wasn't interested in being "bad" at all.... but when i went off to college, my lack of experience landed me in some seriously bad situations.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I don't want to scare you parents that say over 16, but many people are already having sex by the age 15-17, and usually kids date prior to having sex, so good luck making them wait that long to start dating.
  • barbiex3
    barbiex3 Posts: 1,036 Member
    i started "dating" when I was 14 (freshmen in highschool)... but I don't really think people should be able to date until they are upperclassmen/ have their license. I think 16-17 is a good age because then you can actually at least have enough time to find out who you are, but you don't wait too long and look weird. Whenever the person wants to really.
  • howie4four
    howie4four Posts: 54 Member
    My 16 year old son had his first date last weekend. It was his homecoming dance. The girl he took was nice enough...but her mother kept calling me in the days/week prior to the dance with tidbits like..."your son isn't talking to my daughter"....."he doesn't send her long text...just one word responses"....what's a mom supposed to do with that information? I apololgized to her if her daughter had higher expectations, but that's just my son....he's got alot to learn....and nerves to get over...but he's only 16.....I think we have some time!! I think he's the best thing since sliced bread......
  • spicy618
    spicy618 Posts: 2,114 Member
    With my blessings, my son was allowed to start dating at 17. I'm sure he had a few without my belssings. :wink:

    He's 18 now. :laugh:
  • voluptuous_veggie
    voluptuous_veggie Posts: 476 Member
    whenever yoiu are ready to start having grandkids. I KEED!!!! *That was seriously meant as a JOKE. I watch too many Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant shows, sorry if it came off as offensive, but it really was meant as a joke.


    Oh, my dating age was 16. My parents were FIRM about the age, no budging them.

    Careful, bry! There's a MOD on this thread! BOOOO!!!
  • EpiGaiaRepens
    EpiGaiaRepens Posts: 824 Member
    also, i personally think it's absolutely ridiculous that people are so uber protective of daughters but don't seem to think at all about boys.
  • _Ben
    _Ben Posts: 1,608 Member
    Until they are 18 though, imo, always make sure they are going to bf/gf house when PARENTS ARE HOME. Call and ask to talk to a parent. They arent home? Then you aint going! Just the same with parties. Its shocking to me at times how little parents actually check up on things like that. If your worried about your kid getting preggers or w/e, just make sure they are not the only ones home. Its not that difficult
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