Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

16 year old DD and BF (or not as the case may be!)

10 replies

DiamondDiva · 01/05/2012 14:58

Hi everyone, this is my first post.

I have 2 DDs 11 and 16. After a very difficult 2 years or so (general teenage attitude etc) my DD1 has now more or less settled down and our relationship has become a lot closer recently.
She's always described me as being over protective and thinks that I worry far too much, this is probably true, and due to my own not very caring parents I find the balance at times a bit tricky.

Over the last 6 months or so her friendship group has changed slightly and she's with a really lovely bunch of friends most are a year older than her. She brings them to the house, and they all seem comfortable chatting to me and her dad and hanging out at our house and I also vaguely know a few of their mums and dads....so all good and well so far.
During the last couple of months she's been 'seeing' one of the boys in the group....he's a lovely boy who's 17, he's very polite and doing really well in 6th form and if I could have chosen a BF for her he would be the one.

The thing that bothers me though is they had sex a couple of weeks ago (her first time) and she told me about it the next day, all sounded lovely, protection was used, and he asked her several times beforehand if she was sure... still all sounds good, but when I asked her if they were actually in a 'relationship' now she said no still just 'seeing' each other. Is this normal behaviour for teens these days?

I'm now finding it really difficult to 'butt out' and not keep asking her when she's next seeing him, if he's texting her etc. In my day you flirted then the boy asked you out you said yes and then the romance began. I feel like saying to him ' how come my daughter is ok to have sex with but not to have a relationship with?? (of course I won?t) My DD said that they want to take things slow and not rush into a relationship (more him than her I feel) I just don't get it ????? It just seems so casual to me. My DD has had lots of admirers but has been very choosey, has lots of self respect and is pretty sensible (thank goodness) and this is her first serious relationship, and as she's been seeing this boy for a few months now I know this wasn't a spur of the moment thing to happen between them. I asked her that when you're just 'seeing' someone is it ok for them to 'see' other people too, but she just laughed at me and said 'don't worry mum, he won't.'

Don't know why it's such a big deal to me and am I worrying about nothing here??

OP posts:
Serendipity129 · 01/05/2012 17:17

I'm with you on this, I would want her to have a full relationship, not just the sex part it doesn't seem like a loving caring relationship otherwise. I too find it hard to 'butt out' ,just me being overprotective but also interested in everything my DD does. Not sure what others think but I would want her to be seeing him regularly, it's as if she was experimenting maybe?

MaureenMLove · 01/05/2012 17:28

Well, the fact that she told you about the sex is a good start. She is clearly happy and confident to discuss it with you. From what you've said, you seem to have a fairly open relationship. You know her friends and they are all happy to be in your company. If you didn't know any of her friends or the boyfriend, then I think I'd worry a bit more.

This is half the battle I think. Hard as it may be, I think you just have to go with the fact she is happy with the relationship for the time being and be there to pick up the pieces as and when necessary.

uruculager · 01/05/2012 17:57

I think this is fairly common. This is about America but I think it's more or less the same here:

www.nytimes.com/2008/12/13/opinion/13blow.html

I'm also kind of looking for an excuse to post this, which again is about America but I think still interesting and applicable here:

www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/06/love-actually/8094/1/

Serendipity129 · 01/05/2012 18:17

I found both these articles really disturbing but mostly sad, where's the love in all this, or am I just a hopeless romantic? Never heard of hooking up but I don't think it's right, and with friends? However do you look them in the face afterwards?

DiamondDiva · 01/05/2012 18:30

Thanks for the replies, I don't think she was just experimenting as she really does like him and is seeing him on a regular basis, he lives in a village so it's mostly at weekends. When he's at our house with her he's openly affectionate, holding hands, arm round her etc, and DD seems very very happy at the moment:)

I think you're right MaureenMLove, he's a lovely boy and i think I will just try to go with it. It's just that it's not how I imagined her first serious relationship to start out....but it's not about me is it!

My relationship with her is fab at the mo but has only been so in the last 5/6 months, before that it was really awful, and we didn't see eye to eye about anything....(my poor neighbours!!) We now go out together for dinner once a week and she does open up to me about all sorts of things. Think i'm going to try and not say too much and let them handle it how they want

OP posts:
DiamondDiva · 01/05/2012 18:42

Totally agree Serendipity... very disturbing.

OP posts:
Fairyliz · 01/05/2012 21:05

Diamond, my experience was like yours so,I know how you feel. Yes this is how it works nowadays and as the mum of girls I find it very disturbing. it seems for he benefit of boys, they get the sex without having to work at a relationship, isn't that most teenage boys dream?
I really don't know what will happen in the future and to be honest it scares me. Even the nice boys want sex and the girls seem to have no where to go if that's not what they want.
sorry to sound such a doom merchant!

Serendipity129 · 01/05/2012 22:22

I just asked my 16 year old DD if she knew what the term 'hooking up' meant and she did.....now I feel really old, but more so sad.

Serendipity129 · 01/05/2012 22:24

Diamond D your DD sounds like she had a good relationship with him and you and I don't think you have anything to worry about...especially if he's affectionate towards her, he seems caring and that counts for a lot..

DiamondDiva · 01/05/2012 23:12

Thanks Serendipity129, ....just love my kids so much and want them to make good choices and have healthy relationships Smile and like you said he's a caring boy and DD1 seems fine and happy with it all.

Had a good laugh earlier whilst talking to my BF about this, she reminded me that my partner and I aren't married (don't intend getting married and have been together for nearly 20 years) and once I was pregnant with DD1 how my in-laws were definitely expecting wedding bells.....
In fact I can't actually remember him asking me out so maybe I?m still just 'seeing' him... lol

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread