Your Tween/Teen is Dating?!!!

We know, we know! We can’t believe it either! Your teen is dating. Agonizing over what to wear to school, late night texts and phone calls, sudden blushing – you know the signs. It’s a tough subject to discuss not only because you are probably freaking out about your teen dating, but also because your teen does NOT want to talk about it with her parents. We are assuming the latter part at least!

Here are some tips for talking about the subject in the hopes you can help her play it safe both physically and emotionally:

1) Ask how she met her current love interest. Don’t push the subject and pace yourself – she might take some time to open up.

2) Never assume your child is homo or heterosexual. No time like the present to keep an open mind. Ask who “the special person is” or just come out and say “what’s his or her name?”. This shows your kid that you are open minded to anything they say. If they have a judgemental response, you can decide how you want to handle that side of it.

3) Invite your teen’s love interest over for a dinner. Suggest this as an option to your teen, and let her make the plan.

4) Ask what your teen looks for in a mate? It may surprise you, but it will probably also be the first time he articulates the answer. Never too soon to start figuring it out!

5) Ask your teen if she knows what to do if abuse ever occurred – physical or emotional. Again, this is worst case scenario, but it’s never too soon to plant the seed that she should protect and stand up for herself.