| Just about all parents have some fears about the day | | | | into what will be an ongoing discussion about |
| when their teenage children will begin dating and for a | | | | relationships. Your teenager's dates will not always turn |
| lot of parents it also signals the point at which their | | | | out as they or your expect and they are going to |
| children are making the break from childhood into | | | | need somebody to turn to when they run into |
| adulthood. In many cases, it is also viewed as the point | | | | difficulties. Therefore, it is crucial that you keep the lines |
| when your children take their first steps to strike out | | | | of communication open and also that you continue to |
| on their own and this is normally taken as a sign that | | | | discuss how they ought to be treating other people in |
| they no longer need you. Nothing could be further from | | | | a relationship as well as how they should expect to be |
| the truth. Dating is merely another stage on the long | | | | treated themselves. |
| path of normal teenage development and they | | | | Meeting your son's or daughter's date for the very first |
| undoubtedly do still need you - and will need you for a | | | | time can often be an anxious moment, but it is |
| long time to come. Nevertheless, this is sometimes a | | | | important to make this initial meeting as comfortable as |
| difficult time in a teenager's life and there is a great | | | | you can and to be both respectful towards and kind to |
| deal that you can do to make life simpler for both you | | | | your teenager's date. And don't make the classic |
| and your children. | | | | mistake of giving the pair a lecture on this first meeting |
| As is the case with most other things, success in | | | | during which you lay down the rules for seeing each |
| dating begins with education and it is vital to sit down | | | | other. Any rules which you decide to impose are for |
| with your teenagers before they begin dating to talk | | | | your teenager and not for his or her date and should |
| about what makes a good relationship. It is all too easy | | | | be discussed with your child alone and in private. In |
| to take it for granted that your teenagers already | | | | addition, while it is possible that you will not be |
| know the ins and outs of dating but they almost | | | | impressed with your teenager's choice of date, you |
| certainly will not. If you think about it, much of their | | | | ought not to let your teenager or his date pick up on |
| information on the subject will probably have been | | | | this and should make a conscious effort to be |
| gleaned from television where most of the | | | | supportive. Having taught your children how to conduct |
| relationships are not intended to reflect the real world | | | | themselves in a relationship you need to trust them to |
| but merely to entertain the viewers. Your teenagers | | | | make their own decisions and should not interfere |
| have to be taught just what it means to be in a loving | | | | unless you believe that the relationship is placing your |
| and supportive relationship and the best way to learn | | | | teenager in danger. |
| just what that means is to talk with you about your | | | | It can be difficult to witness your kids growing up and |
| own personal experience. This said, it is also true that | | | | getting close to new people. But, provided you take the |
| your teenagers will learn not merely from what they | | | | right steps and teach them what they ought to expect |
| hear, but also from what they see with their own two | | | | from and how they should conduct themselves in a |
| eyes and so setting a good example in the way that | | | | relationship, then there is every probability that things |
| you conduct your own relationship is vital. | | | | will go well and that difficulties will be few and far |
| Once your teenagers begin dating you should enter | | | | between for both you and your teenagers. |