Welcome to "Hey Mom and Dad"—a weekly feature in which we ask our Facebook fans to share their views on parenting. Every week, we get the conversation started by taking a look back at a question we asked parents the week before on Patch Facebook pages from around the area.
With Valentine's Day close at hand, love is in the air. Valentines exchanged in school from an early age are innocent enough, but it's not long before classmates start developing crushes. That brings us to this week's question:
At what age should you allow your children to begin going on dates?
Take a look at what people had to say and join the conversation in the comments section.
Karen Zappavigna Hoogland: When they have a JOB to pay for the date and can DRIVE to get there and back! —on Beverly-Mt. Greenwood Patch Facebook
Kelly Fletchall: My dad always said I can't date until I'm 30! —on Orland Park Patch Facebook
Carrie Soukup Mitcheff: Dating 17 or 18 but they can pretend sooner as long as they dont go anywhere or do anything. Maybe thats just my wishful thinking. —on New Lenox Patch Facbeook
Carrie Costello Beemsterboer: It's actually easier when they are younger!! 14-15... When they are in High school. You have better control of where they go and who they are with! Mostly because you have to drive them there.... —on New Lenox Patch Facebook
Susan Irvine Dudik: When her date can drive a car over to our house and have dinner with us several times before taking my precious daughter out. The biggest scumbags I dated were the ones who avoided being around my parents. —on Homewood-Flossmoor Patch Facebook
Tania Schreiber Sylvester: We did not let our older daughter date until she was an adult. We went over the standards she was looking for in a husband. We also encouraged her not to date anyone she had no intention of marrying. She did marry a wonderful man last May who wouldn't even kiss her until the wedding day. Of course we were thrilled. We just found out we are going to be grandparents! Our second daughter is 15! —on Frankfort Patch Facebook
Ann Torres-Kozicki: With daughters, 107 —on Oak Forest Patch Facebook
Sharon Bostik: 16 in groups —on Tinley Park Patch Facebook
person I will marry. Parents put your FOOT DOWN stop letting kids date in jr. high and as young teens. Things are so different now. Everything goes. Ask your kids what the rainbow game is. This was around 10 years ago. I say PLEASE BE PARENTS DISAPLINE, AND TEACH THEM TO RESPECT THEMSELVES. What would our parents have done. DO IT!
For a guy: when he loves Jesus, has a car and a job, and knows what it means to lead a woman. When he finds the woman, he should be ready to marry the girl and ask her dad before dating.