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LGBT children

This board is primarily for parents of LGBTQ+ children to share personal experiences and advice. Others are welcome to post but please be respectful that this is a supportive space.

Did I make the right decision?

17 replies

Jowasace · 06/08/2022 07:42

DD is 15. Came out two days ago. I will be honest, untiI about 6 weeks ago I had no idea. But then I saw how she was interacting with a “friend” and started to wonder. Mentioned it to DH but didn’t say anything to DD as if my suspicion was correct, I wanted her to tell us in our own time.

The “friend” I mention above is her girlfriend. She is from school and we’ve only met her once (here at our house) and on the face of it she seems lovely.

DD has told me her g/f (also 15) hasn’t come out to her parents yet.

DD and her g/f want to meet up today - there is a distance of 15 miles and no public transport between the places so it will involve us taking/picking up. We’re fine with that (DD goes to a school that takes from a wide area and are often taking/picking up from houses if needed).

So I say yes no problem. We can take her over/pick her back up. Arrange a time. All is good.

Then DD says she’s been asked to stay over.

My immediate gut instinct was no. If it was a boyfriend I’d say no. So why should it be different because it’s a girl?

Then a bit later she wonders down stairs and tells me that her gf’s dad has offered her the spare room. I immediately smell a rat - who offers a spare room to their child’s friend for a sleepover? I asked does it mean the gf has now told her parents. DD tells me no she hasn’t. (She doesn’t have form for lying but this offer of a spare room
has confused me a bit.)

My reasonings are:

They are both only 15. Raging hormones and desire can be strong at that age! I remember!

GF’s parents don’t know. Seems disingenuous to allow our DD to stay at their house when they don’t know (although if he really did offer the room, I’d say they have a good idea and are trying to coax it out of her).

We don’t know this girl that well. She seems lovely. But equally she might not be respectful/be forecful whatever and at 15 we have a responsibility to protect DD as well as not clipping her wings.

My daughter thinks because they go to an all girls school it’s different to any sort of teen relationship I’d have had. To me, teens are teens and the likelihood of “more than kissing” is the same regardless of whether it’s two girls/two boys/one girl one boy!

So taking all that into account, was I wrong to say no to the sleepover?

I’m asking on here as DH, who was taken more by surprise than I (he brushed off my comments from when I’d seen the interacting 6 weeks ago) but who was busy elsewhere when DD asked me about the sleepover, pulled a face when I told him later on.

He thinks staying over wouud be harmless specially as the spare room has been offered (but I’ve not idea how that would be managed - “right girls it’s 11.45pm and we’re off to bed so turn the film off and Jowasace DD, you now go into this room even though every other friend has always slept in the same room.”

He did also say that he “keeps forgetting” and thinks of them as mates not gf/gf. And he also said I was clearly up to a lot more at 15 than he was (just to clarify, it was one bf and we were both quite straight laced!).

So tell me - what would
you have done when asked about the sleepover? Said no? Said yes? Given different reasons?

We could not give one jot about her sexuality.

I’m only bothered that she is 15 and to a degree I’m here to protect her. (Please let me caveat that - she has a lot of freedom; sees friends, catches public transport 25 mins to school every day, goes into various town centres with her mates to shop/cinema etc.)

Thank you.

OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 06/08/2022 07:46

If you'd have said no to a sleep over at a bfs then you were right to say no to a gf. We shouldn't just be saying no so our teen girls don't risk pregnancy but so, as much as possible, they aren't pushed into any level of sexual contact they aren't comfortable with.

Yes they'll have sex if they want to, but no need for the parents of 15 year olds to specifically instigate opportunities on the kids behalf

lunar1 · 06/08/2022 07:48

I'd have said no, I'd then reevaluate when the other person parents have been told.

Jowasace · 06/08/2022 07:48

SleepingStandingUp · 06/08/2022 07:46

If you'd have said no to a sleep over at a bfs then you were right to say no to a gf. We shouldn't just be saying no so our teen girls don't risk pregnancy but so, as much as possible, they aren't pushed into any level of sexual contact they aren't comfortable with.

Yes they'll have sex if they want to, but no need for the parents of 15 year olds to specifically instigate opportunities on the kids behalf

Thank you for replying. This is more or less what I said to DH.

OP posts:
Inamuddle36 · 06/08/2022 20:33

I agree with you.
How did your daughter react?

Fenella123 · 06/08/2022 20:38

But you're not saying NO-no, are you OP, you're just saying, "Not yet, but of course as life progresses that will change as appropriate".

Jowasace · 06/08/2022 21:45

Inamuddle36 · 06/08/2022 20:33

I agree with you.
How did your daughter react?

She was fine actually. Quite accepting of it. So no dramas with her but after DH’s comments it worried me that I was wrong and had upset her too much!

OP posts:
Jowasace · 06/08/2022 21:48

Oh gosh yes. It’s not a no no. It’s a not now. Maybe when gf’s parents know boundaries can be put in place properly for bed time and of course in a few months I won’t have much say anyway (once they both hit 16)!

But for now, thank you all, you’ve made me realise my instinct wasn’t unfair.

OP posts:
abovedecknotbelow · 06/08/2022 21:51

I'd say no too.

MolliciousIntent · 06/08/2022 21:52

I think setting the rule that she can only stay over if her gf is out to her parents is deeply unfair, but I think saying no right now in general is fine.

CrapBucket · 06/08/2022 21:57

My DD is also 15 and dating a girl. She has had sleepovers with mates all her life, if she wants a sleepover with her girlfriend I would allow it because they are so close to 16 I honestly don't think it makes much difference.

Jowasace · 07/08/2022 06:43

MolliciousIntent · 06/08/2022 21:52

I think setting the rule that she can only stay over if her gf is out to her parents is deeply unfair, but I think saying no right now in general is fine.

To be clear, I’m not forcing the gf’s hand. I understand that for many it can be very difficult (and in some cases, impossible to come out). It must be a matter for her.

However, I don’t think it’s correct, to allow them to sleepover if the parents don’t know. If they do know, they know not to treat it like a regular sleepover. Again applying the logic that if it was a boyfriend different “rules” would be in place.

I wasn’t sure about my decision prior to posting but I’m sure now I have also having had time to reflect.

OP posts:
Russell19 · 07/08/2022 06:52

So... you are happy for your dd to go round in the day, just not at night? Why is that? Whenever I hear parents say that I get confused 😕 You're clearly worried about sex.....but you do realise that sex happens in the day too?

Jowasace · 07/08/2022 12:43

Russell19 · 07/08/2022 06:52

So... you are happy for your dd to go round in the day, just not at night? Why is that? Whenever I hear parents say that I get confused 😕 You're clearly worried about sex.....but you do realise that sex happens in the day too?

It doesn’t, does it? I thought that was a myth!🙄

Difference being of course that more traffic/people around during the day - night time is a bit different!

OP posts:
Sunshineona · 07/08/2022 12:56

You did well OP. No way would I let a 15 yr old share a bedroom overnight with a partner. It’s likely that one of them will be more ready for sex than the other and it’s so easy for a “you would if you loved me” pressurised situation to happen and for kissing to escalate to more and then one partner to give in to the pressure and later regret it. Maybe it will anyway but parents don’t have to facilitate it.

Plus, when this girl eventually comes out to her parents, they may not be at all happy if you’ve knowingly been sending over your DD to have sex in their house. Not a conversation I’d want!

Lindy2 · 07/08/2022 13:11

Get to know the other girl by inviting her over for the day.

Also take into account being gay at 15 doesn't necessarily mean they'll be gay at 20.

Teens take time to find their identity and learn about the world.

Russell19 · 09/08/2022 09:33

More traffic? What if everyone is out?

CarolineMatilda · 01/12/2022 04:00

I lost my virginity at 15 to a girl. It was awkward- we both liked each other, and we were safe, but I wish I'd waited.

Your first priority should be to make sure your daughter knows about safe sex, why she would need it, and gently remind her of the laws in place, and how they're not just there to prevent pregnancy, but to protect her physically and mentally. You can't do much about her girlfriend not being out to her parents- there may be a good reason behind it, but if you want to try and get closer to her to build trust, then go for it.

Strict parents raise sneaky kids- if you say she can't go, there's a good chance that she will try anyway at a later date, and not tell you. That's not to say you shouldn't enforce rules you have, especially ones about underage sex. But above all else, encourage her to be open about things, and that you can talk about anything.

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