GainesvilleMoms.com

I was watching Nick today and saw a preview for a show or reality show or something where a young boy (about 12 maybe) was "breaking up" with a girl his age. They looked very young but were having a very serious conversation. He said, "If it's meant to be--it will be." He sounded so grown! It was so crazy and strange! I had my first BF at age 13 and I was way too young for as serious as we got. My husband didn't have a girlfriend until he was 19 and he married her. I want that for my kids but it's hard to prevent young love, especially with shows like this airing all the time. Am I paranoid? Should tweens be allowed to "fall in love" and "go out?"

No! They grow up far too fast now it seems so no way!! Hubby says Macy can't date until she is 30 so I think he is all for waiting too.

In my opinion, kids are pressured by their peers and media to act much more grown up nowadays. I would discourage my boys from having girlfriends at such a young age. Sure, there are the occasional married couples who "dated" since they were very young. But I just don't think kids need to deal with the inevitable heartbreaks that come with having boy/girlfriends so young. There will be plenty of time for that when they're older!

I was a sophomore in high school and just about 16 when hubby and I hooked up in mid September. By December, we knew we would get married. By Prom that year, we had decided we would make the announcement to my parents Thanksgiving of my Junior year. Fast forward to August 15, 1998, I had just graduated high school and we were married. We are still very happily married to this day.

My two sisters married their high school sweethearts as well. One was engaged for a couple of years, got pregnant her freshman year of college, had the child, finished college and married the father. The other lived with her boyfriend after high school while they both attended college. They finished college and married shortly after.

I agree that 12 and 13 is too young to be dating, at least seriously and unchaperoned. I honestly don't believe that we can choose when we find that special someone though. I know that I was more mature as a 16 year old than a lot of 40 year olds I know. That may sound absurd to some, but I knew that the decisions I was making then were right for me. I think it's more about the individual than it is about the age.

I agree with all of you here. I have two teen girls. One is 15 and the other is 17. Both Have not had a first boyfriend. My 15 year old, She will be 16 in Feb, is a little more anxious to have her first boyfriend than my 17 year old. My 17 year old has a large group of really good kids she hangs out with and they are all friends...boys and girls mixed. She is a junior in HS but is also taking two college courses too and most of her friends are among the same group and very education focused right now.

My 15 year old is in the midst of her first REAL crush and it is so funny to see her get all giddy and blush when she tells me about him. He is a good kid...the son of my vet actually and a football player for the HS too.

My 15 year old is not allowed to date yet...maybe in her next year of HS...then she will be 16 and a half and will have had a little more time to mature emotionally. I don't mind them going to the movies with us and inviting friends that are boys...just no alone dates yet. I have told them how important it is anyway to have a boy as a friend first before a boyfriend.

12 and 13...definitely way too young to be thinking about all that!!!