Q. Our 17-year-old son wants us to let his girlfriend spend the night at our house in his room. He has two beds since his older brother left for college. He says nothing will happen and lots of his friends' parents allow this. Should we try it and see how it works?
A. You're kidding, right?
Let me ask that in a slightly different way:
You are kidding, right?
Unfortunately, I know you're not because you are not the first parent to ask me this.
I must ask you:
Are you ready to be grandparents? Are you ready to help raise, in your home, your new grandchild? Are you prepared to be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and/or sued?
The answer is an emphatic NO! I don't care what promises are made to you, it's a horrible idea and invites disaster.
Teens Not Emotionally Ready for Sex
In addition to all the moral issues, teenagers are simply not emotionally prepared for sex. While their bodies and hormones are many times well prepared, their emotions are not.
And that goes for boys as well as girls.
It's time for a healthy dose of Vitamin NO in answer to your son's question.
And by the way, anytime you hear "everyone else's parents are letting them do it," watch out.
More than likely it's not true.
Leading parenting expert Jeff Herring is a teen and family therapist, parenting coach, speaker and syndicated parenting and relationship columnist. Jeff invites you to visit parentingyourteenager.com for 100's of tips and tools for parenting through the teenage years. You can also subscribe to his f'ree weekly internet newsletter "ParenitngYourTeenager."
trusted cleaning company Bannockburn ..Do you struggle to get your child to bed at... Read More
The learning and development of Australian kids is under threat... Read More
What's new and effective in the treatment of Attention problems?... Read More
There are millions of young children in this country who... Read More
In an actual war, to be attacked means to have... Read More
I am a dad. I have been now for over... Read More
Recently, a much-anticipated game of mini-golf with my children soon... Read More
I remember when my daughter was born, later my son.... Read More
While youth gangs are nothing new -- they've been traced... Read More
Sara loves pampering. Haircuts, facials, manicures, and makeup bring smiles,... Read More
"You can learn many things from children. How much patience... Read More
What makes parenting so challenging at times? One widespread research... Read More
Every children in the world whishes to have toys and... Read More
It was blisteringly hot last Saturday. As I took that... Read More
Discipline is a necessary part of parenting yet it makes... Read More
When was the last time you and your kids rolled... Read More
Everyone in a private practice setting who works with children... Read More
It is so important to create an environment that promotes... Read More
Many parents struggle to know which foods are healthy for... Read More
Have you ever experienced one of those days when you... Read More
As a parent is seems that the majority of your... Read More
What a dreamer I am when thinking about parenthood. Most... Read More
1. They can make mistakes under your guidance2. They will... Read More
I look out of the window as I am writing... Read More
We adopted our first child when he was three months... Read More
luxury cleaning services Lake Forest ..With the beginning of the new school year coming VERY... Read More
Elana, born in Russia, was told "We really don't know... Read More
Sara loves pampering. Haircuts, facials, manicures, and makeup bring smiles,... Read More
It's that time of year when mom and dad look... Read More
A sure way to double the joys of parenthood is... Read More
Q. What's the right age to start giving a Bible... Read More
We want our children to do the right thing, especially... Read More
To every thing there is a season, and a time... Read More
You may remember The Red Couch Project, a book by... Read More
The older my daughter gets the more it's sinking in... Read More
One of the questions I ask in parenting presentations is... Read More
Do you live with an ADD / ADHD child? If... Read More
Whether we realize it or not we teach our children... Read More
Jason Roberts listened to his son's explanation of the missing... Read More
The least flexible character in all of the stories of... Read More
It is hard to believe that summer is coming to... Read More
From the book Spider's Night on the BoomI've only begun... Read More
Once, as a Learning Support Teacher, I made my way... Read More
"Get down from the table top right now! What are... Read More
When it comes to the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity... Read More
For the first year or two of life outside the... Read More
How do we deal with our seriously distressed children and... Read More
At first I thought of titling this article "The Lazy... Read More
It is human nature to feel competitive and envious toward... Read More
Teri was 5. As younger siblings do, she looked up... Read More
Parenting |