Many a girl comes home with stars in her eyes at having been asked out by a boy, only to find her parents objecting on the grounds that she is still too young to date. And often a boy wants to take a girl out, but his mother or father insists that he give his full attention to his studies, saying, "There's plenty of time later for playing around with girls."
How can parents be convinced that you are ready for dates? This is a question that is asked by young people all over the country. Sometimes, of course, the parents are right, and their son or daughter is too immature to date. Actually it is up to you to prove that you're ready to go out by proving that you're grown-up.
How do you do that ?
By taking real responsibility around the house; by helping with chores such as car-washing, cleaning, lawn-mowing; by showing an understanding and concern for your family's problems and budget; by doing your school job well.
Maybe you'll also have to help your parents understand current dating habits in your community, so that they develop confidence in the social situations open to teen-agers. It helps to encourage mothers and fathers to get out to parents' meetings, to attend neighborhood affairs, and to keep up to date on school and social events. This last is your job.
Do you let your folks in on your activities?
Why Not To Talk About It ?
Many adults, and some young people too, frequently ask if reading books on dating and talking about dating problems actually help. There's no question about it-the more you learn about dating, the better.
The fear that such guidance will "give young people ideas beyond their years" is groundless. Actually, if they did not have the ideas, they wouldn't find such reading of interest.
Getting perspective on how other people feel, finding out what is generally expected of you on a date, becoming aware of the many ways you can approach the problem of getting along with others, and coming to terms with your unique answer to life's questions about men and women-all are facilitated by good reading and good discussions of dating, love, and marriage.
Furthermore, books about dating usually point up the fact that all the haunting questions, confusions, and problems that so baffle and hurt are common to most young people. It's encouraging to know that one is not alone-that others are shy, others are clumsy. Reading from a printed page about a poignant experience that you thought was yours alone lessens your sense of loneliness and isolation, makes you feel close to others again.
Of course, there is literature designed to be sexually stimulating rather than thought-provoking. Some jokes and talk are sexy and cheap too. But it's easy to differentiate. That discussion is worth-while if it aims at "growing you up" into the kind of person you want to become. You'll usually find it with other like-minded people, under a wise leader, in school, church group, or informal club, or even among close friends who bring out the best in each other.
Are You Ready to Date?
How is it that some people start dating at such a young age, and others are so much older before they begin to have dates? Both teen-agers and their parents often wonder what is the best age to begin dating. The question looms even more nowadays because so many young people start their dating so early in life. Should parents be concerned? Is there really a special age at which dating should begin?http://www.phewit.com
No comments:
Post a Comment