Search Results for: blog dating woes

The World of Dating Has Entered Our Home

The world of “dating” has at last entered our home. It is something I wasn’t necessarily dreading but definitely wasn’t looking forward to. I have always said that this time could only come based on certain factors. It wouldn’t be a “magical age” in which permission would be granted. It would be based on things such as grades, my level of trust, the character of my child and so on. In other words, it would be taken on a case-by-case basis. In addition, I have spent the past few years observing the way other families have handled this issue. Now … Continue reading →

Something Important to Look for in Teen Dating

This week my family celebrated my stepmother’s birthday at a restaurant. I asked my daughter if she would like to have her boyfriend join us, which of course she did. It has been my goal to take advantage of any opportunity to get to know him. Now this isn’t the norm, I realize. Most of the time when teens are dating, the parents are kind of on the outside trying to look in. Not this mom. I am an involved (please don’t mistake it for smothering) parent. The great thing is that my daughter has absolutely no problem with this. … Continue reading →

Encouraging Friendship before Dating

Like it or not, eventually you are going to deal with boy/girl issues. To some, the way our family chooses to address this issue is radical. And then I’m sure to others, it’s not radical enough. But we all have to make a personal and family decision about how this area will be addressed. One of the things I can tell you, is that what I thought would happen when my children were still very young is no where close to that. What I have discovered is that you have to take each child and each situation and deal with … Continue reading →

Signs of Teen Dating Violence

This past week I watched a disturbing Dr. Phil show, “Teens Obsessed with Love.” It went beyond the whole idea of a teen believing they are in love to the point where violence was going on. It used to be a domestic partner phenomenon but now teen dating violence has become a new and growing problem. What could ever cause a teen to become violent with the one they supposedly “love?” What could cause a teen to allow someone else to victimize them? I can’t say that I completely understand it but it opens up the opportunity to have some … Continue reading →

Teen Dating: When Your Teen Isn’t Ready

This week I blogged about the question, “Is Your Teen Ready to Date?” I would like to spend a few more blogs on this topic because I think it is a really important issue for parents of teenagers. Perhaps you have decided that your teen is not ready to date…or maybe you are just not ready to let your teen date. How do you handle that? The first thing you need is your ammunition. Why are you not allowing your teen to date? Do you truly believe it is because your teen is too young? They are not emotionally ready? … Continue reading →

Dating Woes

When it comes to teenagers there are a lot of dating woes. Heartbreak, disappointment, and confusion are just some of them. Although I do believe that in some cases (rare though they may be) it can work out, in most cases dating as a teenager creates unnecessary woes. My husband and I have never really had a firm plan when it comes to dating. When my children were younger we tossed around some thoughts and ideas. We figured it was best to wait until that time arrived. Well, we are there. Our oldest son turned 16 this month. It seems … Continue reading →

What I Learned from My Child’s Pain

What’s worse than watching one of your children cry for three hours over a broken relationship? Finding out that the one who did the breaking of the heart suddenly realized how wrong they were and wants a second chance. As I comforted my child (before the other person realized they were “wrong” for breaking up), all I could think in the back of my mind was that this must be the best thing. Because after all, that person surely didn’t deserve my child. Of course, I didn’t tell my child that but those were my thoughts. I also thought back … Continue reading →

Sexiest Man and Babe of the Year Separate

Apparently, being named the Sexiest Man Alive can be a curse at times. Actor Nick Nolte had that horrifying mug shot seen around the world, Patrick Swayze lost his life to pancreatic, and Mel Gibson, well, I don’t have enough room in this blog to go into all his woes. So is there really a Sexiest Man curse? Maybe not, but if there is, Ryan Reynolds seems to just have fallen victim to it. Just a month after being named PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man, Reynolds and his wife of two years, actress Scarlett Johansson (and also GQ’s 2010 Babe of the … Continue reading →

Is Your Teen Ready to Date?

If you are the parent of a teen there is one particular issue that you have probably been dreading for many years…teen dating. It conjures up in my mind all kinds of emotions from my past. I remember how difficult teen dating was. So often my heart would overtake me and I was so sure that I was in love. When it didn’t work out, I was left with broken pieces. Teen dating is not something that every teenager will be interested in. Sometimes we make the false assumption that as soon as high school hits, every teenager will be … Continue reading →

My Big Exam (Part 1)

If you’ve been reading the education (or fatherhood blog) for a while you will be aware of my summer of reading in preparation for my doctoral qualifying exams. This series of testing after the classes have been taken and passed is a difficult and painful experience as a student (and also as a father). It is certainly difficult to explain the mental and emotional states that exist during a preparation for exams that takes into account all one is supposed to have learned in a graduate program. The test itself is massive in scope but the questions asked are specific … Continue reading →