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Signs of an Unhealthy Dating Relationship

One of the more challenging issues that parents have to deal with in raising teenagers is dating.  Ideally this is something your family discusses long before the time arrives. There are a couple of reasons this is important.  The first is that expectations are known ahead of time and can be clearly explained.  The second reason is that you can begin planting this information into your teen’s mind, before they start dating.  This avoids surprises. At the same time, be ready to make adjustments along the way.  I really thought I had it set in stone what the “rules” were … Continue reading →

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 →

Dating Again

Children of all ages will act out when you start dating, they see your date as a potential replacement parent and your kids don’t want another parent, they want the ones they have to still be married. The best way to ease into dating is to date on the weekends your children are with their father. This way you can mention that you had coffee with a nice man you met at work, or dinner with a friend from the gym. Try not to use the word date, your kids will realize it’s a date but it will sound less … Continue reading →

“Teen Mom” Star Avoids Jail

… for now. Proving that you don’t have to reach the age of maturity to become a parent, MTV “Teen Mom” star Amber Portwood is back in the headlines following her arrest for beating on her baby daddy Gary Shirley. The reality TV starlet pleaded guilty earlier this week to two counts of felony domestic battery and showed her two-year-old daughter why she shouldn’t follow in her mama’s footsteps. Thursday’s plea signified a major change in Portwood’s original argument that she was 100 percent innocent. In December, the 21-year-old mother went public decrying her arrest for assaulting Shirley, her on-again, … 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 →

Let’s Play! How to Bond with Your New Stepfamily

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Not being much of a bowler myself, I was a little surprised when my then-boyfriend suggested that he take my daughter out for a few frames one Saturday afternoon. It was one of the first weekends I had invited him to visit when my daughter wasn’t with her Dad. (After many years of single parenthood, I continued to be very wary of involving her in my romantic liaisons when I wasn’t yet sure where they were headed). This weekend had been discussed between us at length; our relationship had become serious, and we were starting to talk about a future … 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 Is Ready

So you have decided that your teen is finally ready to start dating. Now what? Do you just let them loose and wish them luck? Not likely. While it may appear to be a time that you have lost all control, this is the time where your parenting can really shine through. First of all, remember that you have been an example to your teen. If you feel that your example has been less than stellar it is never too late to change. Think about the way you treat your spouse or significant other. What type of respect, or lack … 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 →