What do your parents/guardians think about dating/relationships for you?

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This is a neat topic and it's interesting to see the results. I wonder what role age plays in this: surely, it changes with time/experience. Now in my my mid-twenties, my parents aren't involved when it comes to who I'm dating or have a relationship with unless I choose to tell them. However, they're also very supportive of whatever I choose, both in terms of whom I date but also for life decisions in general. Unsurprisingly, it's changed over the years because it's different when you're a minor and living under their roof versus when you're an independent adult with both the privileges and responsibilities that it brings.

I'd love to hear more details about people's votes here:

- Why do your parents/guardians feel this way, and do you agree with them?
- Can you talk to your parents about dating/relationships, and are they open to compromise?
- How has their attitude changed over time, if applicable?
- Etc.

Well I'm 23 now so my parents aren't about to dictate how I get involved with other people. When I was in my teens, they probably wouldn't have approved of dating though. Honestly, they still don't, but now we're at a point where they just expect me to become self-sufficient and we'll all live and let live.

What's the point of wearing your favorite rocketship underpants if no one asks to see 'em? -Calvin & Hobbes

My parents have always said I couldn't date until I was 18, now I'm 18 and am dating and they don't really like it. They know my boyfriend, we've been friends for a few years too. It's also not like I'm bringing some moron or "gangster" or something, he's a nice guy and would never hurt me (95% cuz he loves me and 5% cuz he fears for his safety should he do so XD). My mom has more or less accepted it (she's still got the lovingly paranoid thing going, wouldn't have it any other way) but both parents can be totally annoying too. They blame a lot of the stuff I do (or don't do) on my relationship with him, and my stepdad still mostly refuses to acknowledge that I have a boyfriend. Any adult who cares about me isn't feeling it either. I keep getting all this advice (that I've heard before when I was younger and plan on following anyway), they've annoyed both my boyfriend and myself with all their warnings and crap and again a lot of stuff gets blamed on him. I wish my parents (and other caring adults) would just calm down and trust me to keep listening to them

I started dating at 19. I first had sex at 24, when I was engaged. My parents didn't learn until after the engagement was over that we'd been sleeping together, and they were NOT happy. Conservative Christians. I'm not financially dependent on them, nor do I live with them, so they don't really get to tell me what to do anymore. If I don't want them to know something, all I have to do for the most part is not mention it, and they don't know.

I'm almost 19, have a bf of almost a year. My parents were never okay with me dating any guy. And I haven't told themm about my boyfriend. People say that it's my business and that if I think I'm responsible enough then tell them when the time is right. But I also don't want to tell them one day that "Hey I've had this bf for anout 2 years now"
Really don't know what to do

"I'm going out to the garrage to get the pickle jar and the nut cracker. I'll be right back." -Dad on dating

...*Facedesk*

Hahaha, I'm sorry. But that is funny. I wish my dad would be like that. My uncle said that he would just get the nail gun. D: Poor boys.

they hate that i have a boyfriend.

my mom did get a little tipsy one time and told me that i should be "adored" by whoever im dating. hahaha.

They don't "support my preferences" but, actually, encourage relationships I don't wish to have. My mother insisted that I should have a boyfriend when I was 14 and start having sex when I was 16.

My parents don't want me to have sex before marriage and when they found out that I lost my virginity at 17, my mom cried. They are both super conservative Christian people so I guess my more liberal leanings don't interest them. If they found out that I've had sex with more than one person on a regular basis, they would probably die.

just put a condom on it, i dont whant a grandchild yet.

My parents are really scared of me 'growing up'. I had a childhood accident that almost took my life, so they are really protective of me. They both have said multiple times "You can't date untill after you're married!" I guess they are really scared of me dating:o

My sis (guardian) just plain doesn't want me dating right now because it's my senior year and I should be focusing on school. Snuff to that tho, because I plan on just saying I'm 'hanging out' when I'm really going on a date with some one.

My mum said as long as its not too serious its ok to date more than one guy at once as thats what she did with my dad, must work they're still together 35 years on.

My parents have said I'm too young (I'm 14) to be interested, but I don't think they'd forbid me from dating. I've never dated and only talked about guys I think are attractive, so they haven't had anything to really complain about yet. I'm definitely not allowed to have sex though.

My parents want me to practice safe sex if I'm intimately involved with anyone, but I don't think they have any sort of strong preference about whether I date casually or exclusively, and I know they don't care about the gender or orientation of people I date. However, since I just got out of a really committed, long-term relationship, my mother has specifically said that she doesn't want me to come home from college for the summer and introduce her to my fiancé(e) or anything, so I gather that she would like me to not get super wrapped-up in another committed relationship right away.

My mom's attitude (and my attitude) is that my career is more important and that if I want to be in a relationship, it will happen eventually. I'm not sure exactly how my dad would react if I brought someone home, but he wants grandchildren someday (lol no cause I don't want to do that to my body and I hate kids), but I get the sense he wants me to find someone already. I'm 24 and I've only gone out with 1 guy for less than a month and we didn't do much together (just some kissing and what have you).

No dating until College! My mom says no guys but she wouldn't be as angry if I dated a girl since girls can't get me pregnant. I tried dating at 16 but it got difficult, (not the relationship, but schoolwork, friends and ex boyfriend felt I made no time but I was usually in trouble for stupid stuff like coming home late or failing a test) So my mom says MAYBE 17 but Dad says no real dating until after college but if I must, grow up, mature & wait until college.

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