Parents of teenage girls

Ariana_75
Ariana_75 Posts: 224
edited December 25 in Chit-Chat
Do you let your 13 year old go to the mall with her girlfriend by themselves? Am I being too paranoid saying no over and over again??
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Replies

  • SheepDogBuck
    SheepDogBuck Posts: 4
    I'm a Cop so I'm always a little apprehensive on that. Is she walking there or being dropped off?
  • DixiedoesMFP
    DixiedoesMFP Posts: 935 Member
    No. No. Good mommy.
  • Pedal_Pusher
    Pedal_Pusher Posts: 1,166 Member
    Let her go raise a little hell................ha ha! Says the guy who does not have a teenage daughter.
  • 76wendyful
    76wendyful Posts: 202
    I would not let them go alone, but my daughter is 16 and I still have a hard time with her being away. I think I am just a worry wart.
  • kiminikimkim
    kiminikimkim Posts: 746 Member
    Depends on the maturity of the teenager in question. Only you know her maturity level.

    Personally, if she was respectful, mature and took the initiative to cook, & clean at home I would let her go.

    If you are still picking up after her, nagging her to do chores, then no. I wouldn't let her go.
  • AlexPaige
    AlexPaige Posts: 72 Member
    Former 13-year old (Sorry, I know you asked for parents but I'm offering my mom's answer): She took me to the mall, and I got to hang out with whatever friend (or SO which it seems you're asking about), and she would do some shopping herself, or go see a movie.
  • ProudMomToTwo
    ProudMomToTwo Posts: 44 Member
    No
    Stick to your guns mama - and trust your gut.
  • thomassd1969
    thomassd1969 Posts: 564 Member
    I have let me daughter go if there is a parent going with them, they might not necessarily hang with the parent at the mall but at least they are getting there and home safe.
  • jenklive
    jenklive Posts: 10
    I have a 13 year old. No way I'm letting her go to the mall without an adult. I might let her go to other stores with a friend, but with frequent check-ins.
  • aochoa123
    aochoa123 Posts: 299 Member
    I have a 13 yr old and there is no way that I would let her go to the mall without an adult. Stand your ground she'll thank you later.
  • fitpilatesqueen
    fitpilatesqueen Posts: 337
    I have a 13 yr old daughter and if we lived other places than we do I wouldn´t allow her to go buy herself with a friend. I would possible be ok with allowing her to walk around if I would go to the mall with them and stay around the mall until they are ready to go home.
    I´m so lucky to live in Iceland and here my girls take the bus where ever and they are save and I know I don´t have to worry.
  • stephenglover
    stephenglover Posts: 87 Member
    Do not do it. I have two daughters that have never been mall rats and lived.
  • AShawneeF
    AShawneeF Posts: 123 Member
    My mom would never let us do that. Someone older (sibling, parent) would always have to go with us. But there were compromises - like let them go off on their own but set up a meeting place and time.
  • creech6317
    creech6317 Posts: 869 Member
    I would say it depends on where you live. Some areas are scarier than others. You could always go with and just let her wander with her friends and just check in with you occasionally if you are really worried about it, that way she gets a trial run at the freedom of the mall without a parent.
  • Schraudt814
    Schraudt814 Posts: 496 Member
    I admit to not being a mother- but my mom did not allow that- we could go with her and go our separate ways but ALWAYS check in periodically...as an adult I'm super grateful for that no matter how much I whined as a teenager. These days you just can't be too careful.
  • mrflash222
    mrflash222 Posts: 27 Member
    I didn't let my daughter go anywhere without parental supervision. Sometime it was drop her off at the mall with her friends and I would tell her that I was going to be there shopping and where and when we should meet up. That way she had a little space, but knew that I could always be right around the corner. Admittedly, I probably keep the reins a little tight, but i see too many bad things happen and too many bad choices every day I'm on shift.
  • rmac18
    rmac18 Posts: 185 Member
    no way, I might take them to the mall and let them go in a store by themselves and meet me outside or in a nearby store but no way she goes by herself. She also knows not to go anywhere with anyone she doesn't know or put herself in any type of situation where she could be at risk. Maybe I'm conservative but better safe than sorry. My daughter is 13 and I don't see this changing any time soon.
  • nicolev112
    nicolev112 Posts: 6 Member
    I'm with you on this one. There are too many crazies out there.
  • ReneeCK
    ReneeCK Posts: 63 Member
    If it's in a group, then yes. By herself with a boy, then no. And, she is 16 now. Started letting her hang out in groups without Mommy since she was 14. The worrying never stops, though :wink:
  • Oooberstank
    Oooberstank Posts: 13
    I think not in my opinion. If I had a daughter I wouldn't let her go until she had her drivers license. I just think I would make a protective father.
  • Ariana_75
    Ariana_75 Posts: 224
    Oh I'm so glad I'm not alone on this! I'm gonna print this out and show it to her so she knows that it's not just me being paranoid!!! =)
  • ambarr82
    ambarr82 Posts: 27 Member
    I am a parent of two girls. They are 10 and 13. I may be considered over protective but people are crazy. I don't allow them to wonder the mall alone. My oldest is very mature for her age and the way older guys look at her scares the crap out of me.
  • mslack01
    mslack01 Posts: 823 Member
    i don't. i'm even funny about the movies.
  • _Timmeh_
    _Timmeh_ Posts: 2,096 Member
    Yes I have let her hang out at the mall with her friends. They usually see a movie, get something from the food court, clothes shop and then come home. Group of like 4 girl, a few hours worth of time.

    For those that don't are you afraid of something happening to them?
  • carriempls
    carriempls Posts: 326 Member
    Depends on the 13-year-old, the friend and the mall.

    I would have been dropped off and picked up from the mall with a friend or two when I was that age and never got into trouble.
  • stylistchik
    stylistchik Posts: 1,436 Member
    The mall I grew up going to (Mall of America) required parental supervision if you were under 16 and they would card you walking in! I think 13 is too young to be at a place like that for a long period of time, but my mom would take me & my friends and we'd do our own shopping or boy watching or whatever and check in every hour or so so she knew that we were ok. I turned out alright.
  • specialkyc
    specialkyc Posts: 384 Member
    I have a 13 year old who is mature for her age, but I don't just take her to the mall and drop her and a friend off. If they want to go I take them and then hang out at the mall too. Just don't hang out with them. We always have a set meeting place and time. She also has a cell phone so we keep in contact that way too.
  • biffdaddy
    biffdaddy Posts: 17
    Not just no, but hell freaking no!!!!! I have 2 14 year old girls that act like all they want to do is "get with a guy" even though I am 100% percent certain they have no idea what they think they want to get into. They say that is what all of the girls at school are doing and I told them those girls are probably full of bravado and BS. At least I hope so. They wont be out of my sight much at all.
  • AJ_Pete
    AJ_Pete Posts: 863 Member
    Here's what I do.... I take them to the mall and following a few stores behind where she's never out of sight. She's aware of it and is safe, but she still has her freedom and looks "cool."
  • jboccio90
    jboccio90 Posts: 644 Member
    I dont have a teenage daughter yet, but when I was 13, I was allowed to go to the mall with friends.

    Maybe you could go to the mall too, but not walk around with them.
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