Topic : Teen Dating

I have a 13 year old step daughter who lives with her father and I full time .......... she is "going out" with a 15 year old boy (she says they are just friends, but we don't believe that).  She asked her father if he would take her to a local theme park and drop her off for the day - the boy will be meeting her there and paying her way into the theme park.  My opinion on the matter is no way, I don't like the idea at all.  Her father hasn't said yes or no, he doesn't know what to do.  She's a good kid, but she is only 13 and he's 15.    

My daughter is only two years older than you. I have been involved in her social life, heard the stories she comes back with, what her friends say about certain aspects of hanging out and have a pretty good grasp of the meaning behind some of the lingo used. I'm not a prude at all. When she was in middle school I was already aware of the sexual activity her classmates were involved in: oral sex at the movies, the lengths some girls would go to get a boy to like her, the drugs were starting to become an issue along with the drinking and smoking. I also haven't forgotten the things that went on when I was that age as well - nothing had changed. The majority of 'dating' at your age is hanging out with your friends at the movies, mall, school, etc. and all of it is completely unsupervised which is a problem - you don't realize (or sometimes even care) who's watching you, what is left behind when you (or your friends) path, or create issues to which no one (you and your friends) wants to be held accountable. I've seen some of the manipulation, drama and negative aspects of what kids your age do to one another. Things that you have no business doing - we didn't have any business doing either. That's what parents fear the most. I think if most teens understood that we, as parents, DO remember what was going on when we were your age this would be simple. Some parents want to over-protect (perhaps I'm one of those), some don't protect enough, some simply don't pay attention or think they know what's going on until something happens to make them open their eyes. It's a never ending cycle. If you and your friends want to truly act as adults them understand the consequences of your actions. Yes, you should learn from your mistakes but don't cop-out by asking "how was I supposed to know?" when you get caught doing what you shouldn't have been involved in in the first place.  

If you are at a dating age currently, then what do you do? Honestly!!!! If you're willing to answer that, as you seemed to have the courage to write here to begin with then tell us what goes on... help us learn from you.