MUSINGS

Well, this is definitely a dilemma but if it was my son I'd be discouraging this. I'm not sure how you feel about it but to me dating is for the person you are betrothed to when you decide to get married. Call me old fashioned but I wish I had felt this way when I was growing up. My son had a girl phoning him up last year and she called (no kidding I counted) 10 times in 5 minutes, he's not interested in girls at all yet he thinks they're gross but when he does want to get serious I pray it's to the right one.

I'm good. We're good. Wuzzup?

And I think if you go with them, it's cool. :) It could be like just friends hanging out. I think it could be fun. :) He will see how you and hubby conduct yourselves and maybe learn what's appropriate behaviors. :) Ultimately, it's how you feel in your heart about it... so just pray and ask for guidance. Bless you!

We're in the same dilemna. My daughter is turning 12 and really likes a guy. He likes her too I think, but they both know they're too young to date. When she asked me about it once, I told her that dating is getting to know someone with the possibility of marriage. It's not just for fun. I asked her if she was ready to get married yet. She said no. I said, well there's your answer. Just be friends. The strict mom in me knows I'm doing the right thing, but the cool mom in me wants to let her. But this is a season in her life when she needs to be focusing on developing her character, her talents and her relationship with God....Having a "boyfriend" would just consume all her energies I think....But I have NO problem with them going out as friends with a group.

Growing up my parents didn't want me dating until I was at least 16. There was also the advice that I only date people that shared my faith. Of course, I was one of the strange ones that felt attracted to girls later-- still thinking that they were yucky into high school!

My husband and I decided before we ever had kids that our kids would not be allowed to actually date until they were 18 old enough to make their own decisions and hopefully responsible enough. Now 8yrs and 2 kids later I don't know what the future holds for our now 6 yr old (boy) and almost for your old daughter .....they are both autistic,neither talk and are anywhere from 18 months to 3 in most things in their minds. I honestly have no problem if my kids want to go out with a group of freinds that are both male and female as long as there is a trustworthy adult present or my husband and I go. I have seen far too many parents think that it is okay to let there 12 yr old date unsupervised and then before their daughter is 18 ends up pregnant. My sister in law and I go around and around on this issue she let each of my 3 neices date at 12 and wear what ever they wanted. One got pregnant out of wedlock...and the middle one soon will be....the rate she is going. The only one who seems to have her head together is the youngest who is 14. My SIL thinks we are being unreasonable but we want our kids to enjoy being kids for a while ...to often even Christian kids are forced to grow up faster than they should. We don't want that for our kids

thank you for wishing me the best in college meesh! i will try to do my best, yes, and manage to have time for myself. i get so stressed out. but i will try to manage my schedule. how have you been meesh? meesh!! i think it's such a romantic thing for him to want to ask a girl out. and wouldn't it be a wonderful experience for him? he is twelve... i dont know what the worst could happen anyway. but i am not a parent so i don't know. take care meesh! -hallie

I could maybe see a mixed company like perhaps in a group but not a couple at age 12. A little young yet.

hey girly! hopefully you remember me! i haven`t dropped by in a while. i changed my blog url, it use to be lyl-angel.blogdrive.com! well anyway, hope you`re doin good =)

Just came back to check the discussion here. This issue has come up huge in our house lately. My daughter and the boy REALLY like each other even though they know they're too young to officially "date" It's not easy to parent this stage! It's a whole new phase of parenting for me!

Well, I'm "old-fashioned", too, I guess (at 35!!!), but I would say NO WAY. 12?!?!?! DATING?!?!? I'm sorry, but I had to wait until I was 16, and even that was probably too young as I got in over my head a few times. Kids seem to be getting more and more interested in the whole boy-girl thing younger and younger. Girls are dressing like teenie boppers at 8. I think it's a trend that is rather frightening. They don't need to get that comfortable with each other in a romantic way that young. If they are dating at 12, what are they doing at 14 and 16?? More and more teen pregnancies are occurring younger and younger. Girls are menstruating younger- which means they can get pregnant. And boys are experimenting, even at that age. How many of you young, cool moms out there really want to be parenting your 14 year old's baby??? Now, granted, I'm sure this whole "date" would be chaperoned, but I still think it's setting a precedent at way too young an age, and encouraging behavior that they just emotionally aren't ready for. Encourage your boy to just be friends, and go out for sports. That's my .02!!