Anonymous
Post 10/09/2015 13:07     Subject: How do you enforce the no BF rule ?

Welcome to America! The fact of the matter is that there's different cultural norms here. If you refuse to let her date, she will just hide it from you and it could potentially refuse your future relationship with your daughter.

Would you want a relationship built on distrust and lies? Or would you rather have a healthy relationship where she shares her experiences with you and you can guide her?

You only get one chance to get this right, OP. Don't screw her up by being a controlling parent. It never works out.
Anonymous
Post 10/09/2015 10:59     Subject: How do you enforce the no BF rule ?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:But along the way I've been teaching him what to look for in a girlfriend (kindness, empathy, responsibility, etc)


Yeah, I bet he was hearing you out.

x infinity


What's that even supposed to mean? That you think all boys are assholes to those they date?


No, that things parents say go in one ear and out the other. Surely you've experienced this phenomenon known as selective hearing?
Anonymous
Post 10/09/2015 06:01     Subject: How do you enforce the no BF rule ?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:But along the way I've been teaching him what to look for in a girlfriend (kindness, empathy, responsibility, etc)


Yeah, I bet he was hearing you out.

x infinity


What's that even supposed to mean? That you think all boys are assholes to those they date?
Anonymous
Post 10/09/2015 02:25     Subject: How do you enforce the no BF rule ?

Anonymous wrote:But along the way I've been teaching him what to look for in a girlfriend (kindness, empathy, responsibility, etc)


Yeah, I bet he was hearing you out.

x infinity
Anonymous
Post 09/24/2015 21:04     Subject: How do you enforce the no BF rule ?

Oh, BF means boyfriend.
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2015 22:44     Subject: How do you enforce the no BF rule ?

PhD here. Met DH 2 weeks before my 15th birthday. Still together 29 years later.
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2015 19:41     Subject: Re:How do you enforce the no BF rule ?

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the concept of forbidding dating until after college. WTF is wrong with some people?
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2015 08:30     Subject: How do you enforce the no BF rule ?

PS - it feels very Romeo and Juliet when your parents are dead set against your teenage romance. It will only make their relationship more intense.
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2015 08:23     Subject: How do you enforce the no BF rule ?

You should do more activities and family social engagement (every culture i know that's against dating early has huge family/friend gatherings) with people who share your values. There's really no way to enforce this, but at least maybe you could steer your child to be friends with those whose parents are more like you.

I grew up in a similar culture. Those who internalized the non-dating as something they didn't want to do hung out together and seemed happy.

The other half of us, well...we had good cover for excuses since our friends needed the same excuses.

It depends on how much your child buys into this. It sounds like he doesn't, so it's really impossible to stop this now.

It will be ok either way! Open up communication. You want to know about your kids' lives. I could have used an adult to talk to many times. 15 year old friends are not the best advice givers!
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2015 06:12     Subject: How do you enforce the no BF rule ?

Nobody needs to date. Just like nobody needs a birthday cake. But sometimes people want to date/have a birthday cake.
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2015 05:56     Subject: How do you enforce the no BF rule ?

What I told my now 13 yo DD -- when she was crushing for a boy last year was that there is no dating until you are 16. And, by dating, I mean the traditional date. You can hang out together in public settings and/or with other kids, but no dating.

I am not sure that I will enforce the rule in high school -- I can always relax the rule, but never make it stronger.

FWIW, my DD was somewhat relieved. While she looks mature, she isn't. She told that to the boy, and the crush faded.

Right now, DD is having enough time juggling her school work, her sports, music, and other hobbies. She does not need to date.

(My 16 yo rule is somewhat practical: once she drives, she will have more freedom naturally).
Anonymous
Post 09/21/2015 19:49     Subject: How do you enforce the no BF rule ?

"How do you enforce the no boyfriend rule..." The same way you enforce the "no growing" rule.

Anonymous
Post 09/21/2015 18:29     Subject: Re:How do you enforce the no BF rule ?

Anonymous wrote:we just tell our DD /DS no dating until 16. No exceptions. I do realize there will be special people in my children's life and thats all good but they will only see them during school hours.


That's what you think...
Anonymous
Post 09/21/2015 16:05     Subject: How do you enforce the no BF rule ?

If your teenage daughter has a baby, what's the point of trying to prevent her from breastfeeding it?
Anonymous
Post 09/21/2015 16:01     Subject: How do you enforce the no BF rule ?

As long as you emphasize her long term goals (law school, medical school, studying abroad in college) as positives as well as providing rules, you'll have a better chance of success.