When I think about my kid dating someone, I feel….

•  Confused as to when exactly he grew up?

• A little panicky. I had an awful experience as a teen/young adult with my parents and dating, until I got married. I don't know what a healthy version of dating and parenting looks like.

• When my daughter got her first boyfriend they were both seniors and each others firsts. I always told myself that I would never do the shame thing like my mom did to me about sexuality. I remember her coming down with her boyfriend and asking me to take her to get plan b. Her boyfriend stood there with her and held her had while she talked to me. After she was done I told her we could and asked her boyfriend to head home. I talked to her about what happened and realized that she probably didn't need plan b as no penetration had happened but because fluids had been near openings I told her if she wanted to get it I would buy it for her. We went into the drug store, bought it and brought it home. I went up to her room with her and was with her when she took it and explained that we might want to talk about getting her on birth control if this was where things were going. It made me feel better that she trusted me to talk to me and even better knowing her bf was brave and respected her enough to stand by her while she told me about it all.

• Ready to guide them to making the best decisions possible about their bodies and relationships 

• Nervous but I hope they make safe choices with full consent

• So nervous. With my boys it's that they will be messed with, have their heart broken , get someone pregnant ...but mostly ....that they will not have any interest or treat someone poorly They are young and neurodivergent and I see lack of empathy and caring Scared that I haven't covered the concept of consent well enough With my daughter - she's so young I am having a hard time thinking about it honestly. Plus she is all set to marry her best friend 😂

• Very excited for them, and interested to get to know the person they are dating if/when it turns out to be a longer term match. I have collected a lot of ex sons in like/love along the way, and that's a pretty special thing too.

• A mix of happiness, excitement and nerves. I do want my child to find a partner to share love with and it's exciting to think I may have 'girl time' and nerves. For them... life can change so quickly and navigating can be hard. I always just pray they will 'build' a relationship and as they do, support them.

• Excited and giddy for them. I'm also curious to see the type of person they will be attracted to. Having a healthy and involved father in her life is not something I had growing up, so it gives me hope that she will find kind and loving people💗

• My kid is dating someone- her first relationship. And I have to say, these kids are incredibly sweet, innocent and unabashed in their sweetness with each other. I think about how much more armored I was at that age- more likely to be teasing with someone I liked. So I would theoretically have had fears about her dating, but what has shown up so far has been incredibly comforting and hope giving.

• I feel like I have a lot of work to do.

  
  

• Ha ha ha! I have not thought about that yet. Lol. My kids are eight and four. The idea sort of blows my mind. It makes me go full mama bear, and want to be so protective. But these little people are running a show. I hope that all of our suggestions about confidence and consent and everything in between will stick!

  
  

• Conflicted. Excited to watch my child build deeper connections with another. Nervous about their autonomy. Curious how they will approach being in a relationship. Worried they'll forget all the talks we had about respect, boundaries and health relationships. Conflicted.

  
  

• Scared. Worry about safety, her being pressured to do something she doesn't want to. Also excited for her to have the freedom and support of me and other adults in this next phase (that I didn't have).

  
  

• All the feels, but hopeful. Young people have a lot more to contend with than when I was a teen We have established a relationship of mutual respect and honesty. My hope is that partner selection will be based on all that we've learned together: mutual self-respect, boundaries, communication, and taking things slowly. I belong to me and you belong to you, together we are stronger through interdependence not co-dependence.

  
  

• When I think about my child dating, I feel excited for her. She is reserved and thoughtful for an almost 11-year-old, and I see that as a gift—to herself and to any future partner. As a family, we’ve had age-appropriate conversations about bodily changes, autonomy, and consent, which has helped create a foundation of trust and understanding. We also hold a family expectation that dating is something to begin at 16 or later, when she may be more emotionally ready. I feel this supports healthy emotional development and allows dating to be a positive, celebratory experience rather than something mixed with confusion or insecurity before she’s prepared for it.

  
  

• Anxious. I foresee it being a wild ride.

  
  

• Nervous and scared, but hopefully somewhat prepared for conversations and pray my girls are comfortable enough to come to me with questions and are good judges of character and know their worth!

  
  

• Scared. Protective. Like a MamaBear.