What age should kids be allowed to have a boyfriend/girlfriend?

[11B4V]

At what age should children be allowed to have a bf/gf?

What age do you want to become a grandparent?

[Martinus]

I dunno.  I think the term "boyfriend" and "girlfriend" has such a changeable and ill-defined meeting, that I don't think there's any benefit to trying to impose any such rule.

If one of my boys has a "girlfriend" I don't care.  What I do care about is what they do, and have no problems imposing restrictions on that.  Where you will go, with whom, at which time, and who will be supervising are all perfectly legitimate.

How do you know it won't be a boyfriend?

[Martinus]

For those who voted 16 and up, why? I'm trying to understand the harm in having a romantic relationship earlier than that. (And no, I'm not baiting. I'm seriously trying to understand.)

When I lost my virginity I was 16, she was 15.  But she wasn't my daughter.  THAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT NOW

Wouldn't losing virginity with your own daughter be kinda difficult?

[Martinus]

I dunno, lady.  I have a cat.

And you keep her locked up, unable to date. 

That's goddamned right, too.  My vestal virgin puddytat, pure in mind, spirit and body, free to pursue a life of religious fulfillment and the little red dot without fear of getting mounted by some ne'er-do-well tomcat that probably already owes child support somewhere as it is.

Deep down she is a whore. 

[Martinus]

And I have no fucking clue. I had my first sex when I was 22. I had my first boyfriend 5 years later.

[dps]

For those who voted 16 and up, why? I'm trying to understand the harm in having a romantic relationship earlier than that. (And no, I'm not baiting. I'm seriously trying to understand.)

When I lost my virginity I was 16, she was 15.  But she wasn't my daughter.  THAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT NOW

So the fear is that Kids under 16 may start a sexual relationship? Does this include the 10-13 year olds?

It wouldn't be an entirely unreasonable fear, especially at the upper end of that age group.

[merithyn]

It wouldn't be an entirely unreasonable fear, especially at the upper end of that age group.

I would think that it would depend on the kid, though. My elder two boys were dangerous at that age because they wanted to be grown but didn't have the intelligence to be doing grown-up things. My younger two kids, on the other hand, are smarter about life in general and in no rush to grow up, so I'm less worried about them making poor choices.

[Phillip V]

Make them read relationship/life/biography books first and write a research paper for you that includes statistics and explanations of love, trust, etc. This would not be a prerequisite for dating, but for the logistical requests on you for transportation, attractive clothes, sleepovers, contraception, etc.

[Eddie Teach]

For those who voted 16 and up, why? I'm trying to understand the harm in having a romantic relationship earlier than that. (And no, I'm not baiting. I'm seriously trying to understand.)

When I lost my virginity I was 16, she was 15.  But she wasn't my daughter.  THAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT NOW

Wouldn't losing virginity with your own daughter be kinda difficult?

Be possible if he was a sperm donor.

[Phillip V]

For those who voted 16 and up, why? I'm trying to understand the harm in having a romantic relationship earlier than that. (And no, I'm not baiting. I'm seriously trying to understand.)

When I lost my virginity I was 16, she was 15.  But she wasn't my daughter.  THAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT NOW

Wouldn't losing virginity with your own daughter be kinda difficult?

Be possible if he was a sperm donor.

The whole sperm donor thing has led to cases of unknowing biological brothers and sisters raised in different families later meeting and having sex.
Or maybe I saw that in a fictional show.

[CountDeMoney]

When I lost my virginity I was 16, she was 15.  But she wasn't my daughter.  THAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT NOW

Wouldn't losing virginity with your own daughter be kinda difficult?

Don't be such ass milk.

[Grey Fox]

16. Fuck what they want before that.

[DGuller]

16. Fuck what they want before that.

[Josquius]

The whole sperm donor thing has led to cases of unknowing biological brothers and sisters raised in different families later meeting and having sex.
Or maybe I saw that in a fictional show.

Yeah, I've heard that happens quite commonly.  People are naturally genetically attracted to siblings and its only the psychological effect of being raised together which makes most people think they're icky.

For this to happen between a biological father/daughter though....hmm....that one is new and intruiging. 

[Valmy]

Really it all boils down to two things:

1. No babies

2. No STDs

Whatever it takes to make sure my kids get to 18 without getting either of those things.