Were you held to a certain age or have you set a certain age for dating with your children? I wasn't given an age, but didn't allow our children to date (alone in car, they could go as a group) until they were in high school second year. I see so many ''babies'' 11-12 years old allowed to 'date'...just doesn't seem like a good idea to me....maybe I'm old fashion?

I didn't let mine date until high school and they weren't allowed to be alone till the last year of high school. Call me strict but there are more important things than being alone with the opposite sex and plenty that still goes on with a group these days.

My mother told me that I could date when I was 18, had a job and could support him if I decided to date a loser. She ended up giving in when I was about 15, ended up liking him at first then three years down the road we both realized what a jerk he was. Even worse when she passed, he became the biggest jerk in the world for still living in the same town as my mother and not attending her services, yet his own mother did. The things you learn when you are young.

So sorry to hear about your loss :(

I really don't know what to say .. I didn't date till I was 17 and my parents were very strict. I kinda hated that back then, but I never had any issues. I just grew up nicely and matured as a very serious woman. I think I would be strict too. I would rather have my teen girl hate me for not letting her to go alone at 12 with god knows what guy, then to have her pregnant and suffer.

My father was really strict about dating but still have some leniency. Strict about where to go, time to date, and spending money on dates. But he is lenient enough for me to choose whichever girl I wanted to date. Sometimes he even tries to ask me if I like a girl she knew.

But because I'm so much engrossed with my studies, I started when I was already in 2nd year college, I was about 17.