Anonymous wrote:It is like you guys are arguing how securely the windows must be locked while leaving the front door wide open.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:These discussions about teens and dating always make me wonder a little bit about what it is that parents really value and how they think you get there. If the goal is "no sex for teens" then basically you shouldn't let them out of the house. If they are getting in cars, going on walks, visiting friends (not just boyfriend's house) the opportunity will be there. It seems curious to me to put so much emphasis on limits/boundaries that are essentially meaningless in attaining that goal.
So what's the other option - actually I'd like my teens to respect and value themselves enough that they decide when they have sex and that they do it safely and with full consent. I want them educated, I want them confident, and I want them to own this very important part of themselves and treat it with respect. Everything we know about education and sex is this leads to better outcomes. But to do that you have to approach sex as a positive thing, not as a scary thing that nobody will talk about and you definitely can't go to your boyfriends house because what if....
Listen people, the average age to have sex for first time is 17. That means LOT of 15 and 16 year olds are getting busy. I'm gonna guess exactly nobody delays having sex because their parents impose arbitrary rules about whose house they can go to. Have the hard conversations, it's really worth it.
You don't get it. The Goal is NOT "no sex for teens". It's about boundaries, boundaries for a 15 year old girl.
Too much permissive and uninvolved parenting advice here.
The boundary you can’t go to your boyfriends house is a meaningless boundary hence just a platitude to make you feel good about your lack of parenting.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:These discussions about teens and dating always make me wonder a little bit about what it is that parents really value and how they think you get there. If the goal is "no sex for teens" then basically you shouldn't let them out of the house. If they are getting in cars, going on walks, visiting friends (not just boyfriend's house) the opportunity will be there. It seems curious to me to put so much emphasis on limits/boundaries that are essentially meaningless in attaining that goal.
So what's the other option - actually I'd like my teens to respect and value themselves enough that they decide when they have sex and that they do it safely and with full consent. I want them educated, I want them confident, and I want them to own this very important part of themselves and treat it with respect. Everything we know about education and sex is this leads to better outcomes. But to do that you have to approach sex as a positive thing, not as a scary thing that nobody will talk about and you definitely can't go to your boyfriends house because what if....
Listen people, the average age to have sex for first time is 17. That means LOT of 15 and 16 year olds are getting busy. I'm gonna guess exactly nobody delays having sex because their parents impose arbitrary rules about whose house they can go to. Have the hard conversations, it's really worth it.
You don't get it. The Goal is NOT "no sex for teens". It's about boundaries, boundaries for a 15 year old girl.
Too much permissive and uninvolved parenting advice here.
Anonymous wrote:These discussions about teens and dating always make me wonder a little bit about what it is that parents really value and how they think you get there. If the goal is "no sex for teens" then basically you shouldn't let them out of the house. If they are getting in cars, going on walks, visiting friends (not just boyfriend's house) the opportunity will be there. It seems curious to me to put so much emphasis on limits/boundaries that are essentially meaningless in attaining that goal.
So what's the other option - actually I'd like my teens to respect and value themselves enough that they decide when they have sex and that they do it safely and with full consent. I want them educated, I want them confident, and I want them to own this very important part of themselves and treat it with respect. Everything we know about education and sex is this leads to better outcomes. But to do that you have to approach sex as a positive thing, not as a scary thing that nobody will talk about and you definitely can't go to your boyfriends house because what if....
Listen people, the average age to have sex for first time is 17. That means LOT of 15 and 16 year olds are getting busy. I'm gonna guess exactly nobody delays having sex because their parents impose arbitrary rules about whose house they can go to. Have the hard conversations, it's really worth it.
Anonymous wrote:There is a train of thought in this thread that seems to suggest that any boundary is worthless so why have any at all. Part of our job as parents is to reflect our values in the boundaries we set for our kids, and it's developmentally appropriate for teens to buck against them, but that dance still plays a role in shaping the adults they become. Setting boundaries gives kids a sense of security and models for them how to set personal boundaries as well. Just because a kid will figure out how to test them, push them, break them, doesn't mean they don't have value.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:No- but I don’t want my 15 y.o. having sex so I won’t enable it. In a few years when I know she can effectively give consent then she can sneak around behind my proverbial back.
Wow. OP here. That's quite a leap to say that you'd be enabling if you just let her hang out at someone's house. Do you let her go to anyone's house?
Not PP, but this is not just anyone's house. This is her boyfriend's house. So I agree, NOPE, not at 15!
You realize her boyfriend can show up at her other friends house.
Still a NO to boyfriend's house!
You know boundaries and consequences, right?
So it’s okay to see boyfriend at random friends houses but not his house.
Bizarre
I guess no boundaries at your home, huh?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:No- but I don’t want my 15 y.o. having sex so I won’t enable it. In a few years when I know she can effectively give consent then she can sneak around behind my proverbial back.
Wow. OP here. That's quite a leap to say that you'd be enabling if you just let her hang out at someone's house. Do you let her go to anyone's house?
Not PP, but this is not just anyone's house. This is her boyfriend's house. So I agree, NOPE, not at 15!
You realize her boyfriend can show up at her other friends house.
Still a NO to boyfriend's house!
You know boundaries and consequences, right?
So it’s okay to see boyfriend at random friends houses but not his house.
Bizarre
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:No- but I don’t want my 15 y.o. having sex so I won’t enable it. In a few years when I know she can effectively give consent then she can sneak around behind my proverbial back.
Wow. OP here. That's quite a leap to say that you'd be enabling if you just let her hang out at someone's house. Do you let her go to anyone's house?
Not PP, but this is not just anyone's house. This is her boyfriend's house. So I agree, NOPE, not at 15!
You realize her boyfriend can show up at her other friends house.
Still a NO to boyfriend's house!
You know boundaries and consequences, right?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:No- but I don’t want my 15 y.o. having sex so I won’t enable it. In a few years when I know she can effectively give consent then she can sneak around behind my proverbial back.
Wow. OP here. That's quite a leap to say that you'd be enabling if you just let her hang out at someone's house. Do you let her go to anyone's house?
Not PP, but this is not just anyone's house. This is her boyfriend's house. So I agree, NOPE, not at 15!
You realize her boyfriend can show up at her other friends house.