What are your dating rules for DD?

[Anonymous]

What are your rules for dating for a female high school junior who is already 18?

[Anonymous]

Mother of 18 year old senior: I know generally where she is and her plans; she has a midnight curfew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mother of 18 year old senior: I know generally where she is and her plans; she has a midnight curfew.

Do you know the boy(s) she dates well? Do you require that you know them? Did you give her an age limit on the boy? Has she ever missed curfew? If so, how did you punish?

[Anonymous]

If she’s over 18 she’s an adult so there is that you have really no say.

1.No
2. Yes, if she’s living with you how can she date someone you have never met? She can but it would be strange.
3. Over 18 you have no say.
4. Curfew if she’s a high school senior living in your house then she should be respectful of your rules. Obviously a reasonable curfew time like midnight on weekends. If she broke curfew then yes take car if she was driving, but don’t ground completely as she will run towards him.

I’d be more concerned about the not knowing this person at all, what are they hiding.

Either way if she’s 18 you can impose tons of rules but she will push you away.

Try a calm sit down asking to meet the person and get to know them. If you don’t end up liking them bite your tongue, because she needs to figure this out. It stinks but it’s as old as time. You won’t break them up.

This is super hard and no easy answers .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she’s over 18 she’s an adult so there is that you have really no say.

1.No
2. Yes, if she’s living with you how can she date someone you have never met? She can but it would be strange.
3. Over 18 you have no say.
4. Curfew if she’s a high school senior living in your house then she should be respectful of your rules. Obviously a reasonable curfew time like midnight on weekends. If she broke curfew then yes take car if she was driving, but don’t ground completely as she will run towards him.

I’d be more concerned about the not knowing this person at all, what are they hiding.

Either way if she’s 18 you can impose tons of rules but she will push you away.

Try a calm sit down asking to meet the person and get to know them. If you don’t end up liking them bite your tongue, because she needs to figure this out. It stinks but it’s as old as time. You won’t break them up.

This is super hard and no easy answers .

OP here. Ugh, yes, this is so freaking hard. We don't know the person because she met him on a dating app (she lied to us at first, but it all came out later) and he didn't come to the door on first date. We did meet him later but he sat quietly saying 'yes' and 'no,' etc. He's also much older (24). She has broken curfew twice now.

I'm at a loss. DH wants to throw her out. I want harmony and to work with her on this.

[Anonymous]

We're not there yet, but I hope people have the same rules for their DSs as their DDs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If she’s over 18 she’s an adult so there is that you have really no say.

1.No
2. Yes, if she’s living with you how can she date someone you have never met? She can but it would be strange.
3. Over 18 you have no say.
4. Curfew if she’s a high school senior living in your house then she should be respectful of your rules. Obviously a reasonable curfew time like midnight on weekends. If she broke curfew then yes take car if she was driving, but don’t ground completely as she will run towards him.

I’d be more concerned about the not knowing this person at all, what are they hiding.

Either way if she’s 18 you can impose tons of rules but she will push you away.

Try a calm sit down asking to meet the person and get to know them. If you don’t end up liking them bite your tongue, because she needs to figure this out. It stinks but it’s as old as time. You won’t break them up.

This is super hard and no easy answers .

OP here. Ugh, yes, this is so freaking hard. We don't know the person because she met him on a dating app (she lied to us at first, but it all came out later) and he didn't come to the door on first date. We did meet him later but he sat quietly saying 'yes' and 'no,' etc. He's also much older (24). She has broken curfew twice now.

I'm at a loss. DH wants to throw her out. I want harmony and to work with her on this.

OP again I’m super sorry. And sorry about missing the part she was a junior I wrote senior.

Either way it sounds like he has wormed his way in, unfortunately.

The curfew issue might be your best place to start here.

For example, when discussing punishment because she broke house rules. Not because he kept her out after curfew.

Weeknights since she has school and homework punishment can be related to that as well. Like she can only go out on weekends because she has other obligations. A lot of this is going to be hard and your tone when talking with her needs to be firm but not antagonistic or yelling I know this is so hard to do,

Google him so you know as much as you can about him. Just for your own knowledge. Also Maryland case search if you are in MD. Because why does a 24 year old want to date a high schooler even if she is 18? Don’t tell her what if anything that you find she won’t believe you.It will just give you information good or bad on how to word when using talking points with her.

I understand your husbands view, but I’d try hard to protect my daughter and it’s harder to do if she leaves home and the whole school issue gets complicated.

Super sorry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If she’s over 18 she’s an adult so there is that you have really no say.

1.No
2. Yes, if she’s living with you how can she date someone you have never met? She can but it would be strange.
3. Over 18 you have no say.
4. Curfew if she’s a high school senior living in your house then she should be respectful of your rules. Obviously a reasonable curfew time like midnight on weekends. If she broke curfew then yes take car if she was driving, but don’t ground completely as she will run towards him.

I’d be more concerned about the not knowing this person at all, what are they hiding.

Either way if she’s 18 you can impose tons of rules but she will push you away.

Try a calm sit down asking to meet the person and get to know them. If you don’t end up liking them bite your tongue, because she needs to figure this out. It stinks but it’s as old as time. You won’t break them up.

This is super hard and no easy answers .

OP here. Ugh, yes, this is so freaking hard. We don't know the person because she met him on a dating app (she lied to us at first, but it all came out later) and he didn't come to the door on first date. We did meet him later but he sat quietly saying 'yes' and 'no,' etc. He's also much older (24). She has broken curfew twice now.

I'm at a loss. DH wants to throw her out. I want harmony and to work with her on this.

OP again I’m super sorry. And sorry about missing the part she was a junior I wrote senior.

Either way it sounds like he has wormed his way in, unfortunately.

The curfew issue might be your best place to start here.

For example, when discussing punishment because she broke house rules. Not because he kept her out after curfew.

Weeknights since she has school and homework punishment can be related to that as well. Like she can only go out on weekends because she has other obligations. A lot of this is going to be hard and your tone when talking with her needs to be firm but not antagonistic or yelling I know this is so hard to do,

Google him so you know as much as you can about him. Just for your own knowledge. Also Maryland case search if you are in MD. Because why does a 24 year old want to date a high schooler even if she is 18? Don’t tell her what if anything that you find she won’t believe you.It will just give you information good or bad on how to word when using talking points with her.

I understand your husbands view, but I’d try hard to protect my daughter and it’s harder to do if she leaves home and the whole school issue gets complicated.

Super sorry!

+1 and I would do the background search as quickly as possible. 24 with a high schooler is not impossible but it is a little unusual especially over a dating app..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If she’s over 18 she’s an adult so there is that you have really no say.

1.No
2. Yes, if she’s living with you how can she date someone you have never met? She can but it would be strange.
3. Over 18 you have no say.
4. Curfew if she’s a high school senior living in your house then she should be respectful of your rules. Obviously a reasonable curfew time like midnight on weekends. If she broke curfew then yes take car if she was driving, but don’t ground completely as she will run towards him.

I’d be more concerned about the not knowing this person at all, what are they hiding.

Either way if she’s 18 you can impose tons of rules but she will push you away.

Try a calm sit down asking to meet the person and get to know them. If you don’t end up liking them bite your tongue, because she needs to figure this out. It stinks but it’s as old as time. You won’t break them up.

This is super hard and no easy answers .

OP here. Ugh, yes, this is so freaking hard. We don't know the person because she met him on a dating app (she lied to us at first, but it all came out later) and he didn't come to the door on first date. We did meet him later but he sat quietly saying 'yes' and 'no,' etc. He's also much older (24). She has broken curfew twice now.

I'm at a loss. DH wants to throw her out. I want harmony and to work with her on this.

OP again I’m super sorry. And sorry about missing the part she was a junior I wrote senior.

Either way it sounds like he has wormed his way in, unfortunately.

The curfew issue might be your best place to start here.

For example, when discussing punishment because she broke house rules. Not because he kept her out after curfew.

Weeknights since she has school and homework punishment can be related to that as well. Like she can only go out on weekends because she has other obligations. A lot of this is going to be hard and your tone when talking with her needs to be firm but not antagonistic or yelling I know this is so hard to do,

Google him so you know as much as you can about him. Just for your own knowledge. Also Maryland case search if you are in MD. Because why does a 24 year old want to date a high schooler even if she is 18? Don’t tell her what if anything that you find she won’t believe you.It will just give you information good or bad on how to word when using talking points with her.

I understand your husbands view, but I’d try hard to protect my daughter and it’s harder to do if she leaves home and the whole school issue gets complicated.

Super sorry!

Thanks. This is useful. I have done as much web research on him as possible, but there's not much there about him (he's also not American so not much on social media). And yes, I think it's totally obvious why he wants to be with her (he can easily manipulate her!). Trying to convince DH to be patient is also just as hard as trying to convince her that she's being used.

[Anonymous]

Oh geez. This is tough. She is 18 so I’d worry about pushing her away but I’d be horrified at the thought of my 18 year old junior in HS dating a 24 year old she met online.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If she’s over 18 she’s an adult so there is that you have really no say.

1.No
2. Yes, if she’s living with you how can she date someone you have never met? She can but it would be strange.
3. Over 18 you have no say.
4. Curfew if she’s a high school senior living in your house then she should be respectful of your rules. Obviously a reasonable curfew time like midnight on weekends. If she broke curfew then yes take car if she was driving, but don’t ground completely as she will run towards him.

I’d be more concerned about the not knowing this person at all, what are they hiding.

Either way if she’s 18 you can impose tons of rules but she will push you away.

Try a calm sit down asking to meet the person and get to know them. If you don’t end up liking them bite your tongue, because she needs to figure this out. It stinks but it’s as old as time. You won’t break them up.

This is super hard and no easy answers .

OP here. Ugh, yes, this is so freaking hard. We don't know the person because she met him on a dating app (she lied to us at first, but it all came out later) and he didn't come to the door on first date. We did meet him later but he sat quietly saying 'yes' and 'no,' etc. He's also much older (24). She has broken curfew twice now.

I'm at a loss. DH wants to throw her out. I want harmony and to work with her on this.

He wants to throw out his daughter, who is in high school, for staying out after her curfew twice?

I'm sorry, OP.

Keep a discreet but watchful eye, communicate as much as possible, don't drive her away, don't try to drive him away, let her figure it out.

By any chance, are you and/or your husband immigrants to the US?

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous
Thanks. This is useful. I have done as much web research on him as possible, but there's not much there about him (he's also not American so not much on social media). And yes, I think it's totally obvious why he wants to be with her (he can easily manipulate her!). Trying to convince DH to be patient is also just as hard as trying to convince her that she's being used.

You can't convince her that she's being used. She has to come to that realization on her own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If she’s over 18 she’s an adult so there is that you have really no say.

1.No
2. Yes, if she’s living with you how can she date someone you have never met? She can but it would be strange.
3. Over 18 you have no say.
4. Curfew if she’s a high school senior living in your house then she should be respectful of your rules. Obviously a reasonable curfew time like midnight on weekends. If she broke curfew then yes take car if she was driving, but don’t ground completely as she will run towards him.

I’d be more concerned about the not knowing this person at all, what are they hiding.

Either way if she’s 18 you can impose tons of rules but she will push you away.

Try a calm sit down asking to meet the person and get to know them. If you don’t end up liking them bite your tongue, because she needs to figure this out. It stinks but it’s as old as time. You won’t break them up.

This is super hard and no easy answers .

OP here. Ugh, yes, this is so freaking hard. We don't know the person because she met him on a dating app (she lied to us at first, but it all came out later) and he didn't come to the door on first date. We did meet him later but he sat quietly saying 'yes' and 'no,' etc. He's also much older (24). She has broken curfew twice now.

I'm at a loss. DH wants to throw her out. I want harmony and to work with her on this.

OP again I’m super sorry. And sorry about missing the part she was a junior I wrote senior.

Either way it sounds like he has wormed his way in, unfortunately.

The curfew issue might be your best place to start here.

For example, when discussing punishment because she broke house rules. Not because he kept her out after curfew.

Weeknights since she has school and homework punishment can be related to that as well. Like she can only go out on weekends because she has other obligations. A lot of this is going to be hard and your tone when talking with her needs to be firm but not antagonistic or yelling I know this is so hard to do,

Google him so you know as much as you can about him. Just for your own knowledge. Also Maryland case search if you are in MD. Because why does a 24 year old want to date a high schooler even if she is 18? Don’t tell her what if anything that you find she won’t believe you.It will just give you information good or bad on how to word when using talking points with her.

I understand your husbands view, but I’d try hard to protect my daughter and it’s harder to do if she leaves home and the whole school issue gets complicated.

Super sorry!

Thanks. This is useful. I have done as much web research on him as possible, but there's not much there about him (he's also not American so not much on social media). And yes, I think it's totally obvious why he wants to be with her (he can easily manipulate her!). Trying to convince DH to be patient is also just as hard as trying to convince her that she's being used.

OP ? Not American, are you meaning he is not a citizen? I'm only asking because you don’t want her leaving here for his own country where she would have zero support. If he’s trying to stay here at least your family will be here for her.

I might also make sure she’s not leaving school to meet up with him. Don’t of course ask her, contact her school about absences. You don’t have to share why you are asking . If there are any again no focus on him just her academics. For example “hey it makes it harder to make up work or he can come over after school and help you with math”just think out of the box. I understand it will suck to have him over but better at your house then somewhere she’s on her own.

Therapy for just her if she’s willing as a condition of our house our rule? I’m not suggesting family therapy because she’s already reaching outside of your family for some need to be filled. This way she can be free to talk about everything.

Good luck hugs and I’m sorry.

[Anonymous]

If she's in your house you do get to set some rules: want to know generally where and with whom and when you'll be home (adults should be doing this with other adults in the house as a matter of courtesy, too). I think a curfew is fine but midnight (at least on a weekend) is not reasonable for an 18 yo.

I would explain some of your concerns:
-not meeting the guy and her not meeting him in public places at first (if that is the case, not clear from your post). People lie on dating apps. Plus, it's just disrespectful.
-talk to her about seeing a doctor for contraception and so she can ask any questions in private.
-don't start out by badmouthing him to her over the age difference. Just speak to her about your concerns and things to be aware of (controlling, etc.) if you start out badmouthing it may have the opposite effect.

I think you're limited here, though not without some input. Your DH's desire to throw her out of house is, frankly, absurd and a gross over-reaction. So I suggest dealing with him, as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she's in your house you do get to set some rules: want to know generally where and with whom and when you'll be home (adults should be doing this with other adults in the house as a matter of courtesy, too). I think a curfew is fine but midnight (at least on a weekend) is not reasonable for an 18 yo.

I would explain some of your concerns:
-not meeting the guy and her not meeting him in public places at first (if that is the case, not clear from your post). People lie on dating apps. Plus, it's just disrespectful.
-talk to her about seeing a doctor for contraception and so she can ask any questions in private.
-don't start out by badmouthing him to her over the age difference. Just speak to her about your concerns and things to be aware of (controlling, etc.) if you start out badmouthing it may have the opposite effect.

I think you're limited here, though not without some input. Your DH's desire to throw her out of house is, frankly, absurd and a gross over-reaction. So I suggest dealing with him, as well.

Thank you. Yes, DH tends to overreact a lot. Yes, separate problem, but a real one too. She is in therapy. She is on contraception. I agree about not badmouthing him, etc. Keep trying to explain this to DH.