Young Love

I have a 16 year old almost 17 come April. He has a girlfriend. This is his first girlfriend ever. It is about time. 16 is dating age for our family. He has never shown interest in girls before. He has noticed girls but he always is very opinionated about what he likes and does not like. This girl is from church and they met in seminary class. This is what he bought his girl friend. Warrior asked if she could eat Sunday dinner with us last week. She is awesome. She was not shy at all and spoke, had great manners and got along with us all. I love the fact that he asked her to the house to hang with us on Sunday. To me, this is very mature. This is the gift he bought for her. He was so stressing it and he and his sister went out and searched amongst the remenants that were left at 9pm on the day before Valentine's.

I have a 13 yr. old. She said she has a boy friend. UMm,, no you don't. She says, "yes, I do". I said, "Makela, what is a boyfriend?, what do you do?" She said that a boyfriend is where they talk and text. I asked if she gets to see him in school and she had told me they do not have classes together and they pass in the hallway. They don't see each other on weekends so that is not a boy friend. Mr. Incredible and I and Beauty had a long discussion about what a boy friend is and dating. In our church there is a set age when dating should begin. 16. 14 for group dating.
Why? Let's say you start dating at 11 or 12. I have a boy friend/girl friend. They start holding hands and going to the movies with each other. There is a level of unsurety and awkwardness. Well, if you have been dating and doing these things since you were 12, then things will naturally progress when you are 16. Hand holding at 16 will be no big deal, kissing no big deal. SO, at 16, if you have not dated before, going out will be awkward, holding hands will be awkward, etc. She understands where we are coming from and we understand where she is coming from. All of her friends have boyfriends and girlfriends. They are dating. It is only natural for her to want to be and do like her friends. I like the fact that we can talk to our children and that they can talk to us. I have some of the best conversations with both of them. They are some really great kids.