DD, almost 14, has never shown interest in boys although noticeable that over the last year or so she had gone past the "boys are horrid" stage and was happy to chat / laugh with boys at activities she attends. Then out of the blue she got asked for her number by a boy (same school year) at a course she started going to recently and he's texted her asking her to go out with him.
Was actually really pleased that her first reaction was to come to me and say "what do I do?" and I held back my first reaction of "no, you're my baby, you can't" and talked about what she wanted to say and she's responded with a yes. But now she's worrying about it and so am I! I did say to her that we'd need to know when/where and when she'd be home and suggested that they did something that meant she wasn't committed to lots of time if it was awkward. And that we'd agree a "come and get me now Mum" codeword before she went.
So tell me your stories about your teenage DDs going on first dates - is this age about normal, what does a "date" mean when you're 13? After school or weekend afternoon rather than evening? Drink in a café? Cinema? As a teenager (and in fact as an adult), all my dates grew out of friendships in wide social circle or at work or church so there was never any going on dates before you really knew someone, so I have no idea what is the norm!
Before anyone asks, I'm not trying to interfere, it's just that DD doesn't really know what to plan/expect and I want to be able to help / reassure her. I guess I also want to remind her of conversations we have had in the past that at the time were just theoretical about "not doing anything you don't want to do" without worrying her - you hear so much about teenage boy expectations and I rather expect that even a kiss would worry DD!