Teenage Dating

part 2

Time to go on an Actual Date.

By Julian Cowie

Sooner or later comes the time for all teenagers to go out on that first date one on one. So what do you, the parent, do before hand. By now you should have developed a good trusting relationship with your teen. One where they feel they can talk to you about any subject and get the benefit of your experience.

Hopefully you have been a good role model and they look up to you with loving admiration....well they look up to you anyway, although they may not show it. By now you have had that talk about the birds and the bees, what, not nature, sex! Get Real!

Research (in the western world) shows that 50% of students have had sex by the time they leave High School. Research also tells us that over 50% of students learn about sex form their peers, television, and the movies. (Some schools do have very good sex education these days.) This leads to some teens believing such myths as you can't get pregnant if you do it standing up, you won't get pregnant if is your first time and other falsehoods. Don't leave it to the school or worse their fellow students to provide your child's sex education. It's too late when they're going out the door on their first date.

Young men need to be taught that when a girls says no to his advances she means no. He has to respect that.

Young girls need to be taught to say No. Look the boy in the eye and tell him No if he is making unwanted advances.

Friends need to look out for each other, keep you eye on your mates when you go out, I don't mean spoil their fun but keep an eye on them anyway, if they came in your car don't leave them stranded somewhere, that sort of thing.

Attitudes still need to change, we need to change our whole way of thinking. When a guy has sex with a number of girls he is considered a bit of a stud, but if a girl does the same thing she is called a slut, a real double standard that still is prevalent today. Often this is totally unwarranted when a guy brags to his mates but in actual fact nothing happened.

The attitudes, lack of respect, all start well before that first date, and it all starts at home, yes your place.

Hey dating should be fun right and it will be if we, as parents, have done the ground work.

Your teens need to know that you will come and pick them up, no matter what, no matter how far, how late, if they need you.... better you pick them up than they get into a car with some drunk teenager male or female. They need to know you won't get mad at them, that you won't pry, they will tell you if they want to when they are ready. Boy! teens certainly have a lot to deal with these days!