Please tell me I'm not crazy

[niener]

I guess my parents were pretty lax about dating. I think I was 15 when I went on my first official date. I'm not sure it ever occurred to my parents to be worried about when I started dating, but I wasn't interested in it prior to that anyway so I guess they never had to come up with an age rule. When I was about 11 or 12 there was a boy that lived down the street from me and we'd spend a lot of time playing in the woods behind our houses, spend hours together with no parental supervision. It was always just "Be back before it gets dark". Of course our families knew each other very well so I guess they were less concerned. We were both pretty nerdy anyway -- we went to art camp, science camp AND music camp in the summer *cool points*

[L.Jane]

I never had any rules about when I could date either. I think I was 13 when a boy asked me on a movie date. I definitely talked on the phone with boys from then on, but nothing more than talking. Then I had two serious boyfriends in high school, one on and off for 8 months when I was Sophomore and the other for the second half of Junoir and all of senior year. The only rules I really had was a curfew and then I could have anyone over after curfew as long as I was home. Also, friday was family night so I couldn't go out Fridays except if it was a special occasion (homecoming) but I could have a friend join us for family night. Our rules were more about family then about dating. I also knew what my parents expected of me and was way too much of a ninny to find out the consequences if I disappointed them. Then again, when I threw a party everyone knew it was one their parents would approve of because nothing exciting would happen at my house.

[DCJenn]

Not crazy.

But, just to throw it out there- I NEVER dated in high school. Ever. I did sleep around a lot though. and my parents knew all of my friends, knew where I was every minute of the day, I checked in as scheduled and was responsible with curfews and driving.

That said- I also knew my ticket out of Small Town (well, Large Suburb) was to get my ass to college to get on with the rest of my life.

And yes, the kids that DID start 'dating' in late elementary school/junior high were totally f-ed up by high school and they're the ones who are all grandparents now. Not kidding.

J.