Parenting Teenagers (12-18) Support Group
This community is focused on the joys, challenges and concerns faced by parents of teenagers (12 to 18 year olds). The major areas of child development include: physical development, perception and sensory development, communication and language development, cognitive development, emotional development and social development.
I posted this on the Families & Friends of Gays & Lesbians, but thought I might get some advice here as well.
These are my other support groups to give you an idea of where I am at the moment:
Grandparents Raising Children
Breakups & Divorce
Families & Friends Of Addicts
Physical & Emotional Abuse
Parenting Teenagers (12-18)
Single Parenting
Diets & Weight Maintenance (Successful at this one!)
My granddaughter is 12.5 yrs old and is "dating" (as 6th graders call it) another girl, Z. A month ago 2 boys liked her and that was her focus, so think she is not sure where she fits. Very normal for this age.
My gd has never been a "typical" girl, but neither am I. She doesn't want to bare her body, so tends towards the boys section for clothes. Both her and I are straight up and down, so "boys" clothes tend to fit better and are not so skimpy and tight. We've looked up the history of fashion as what are "boys" and "girls" clothes tend to change with the ages. She has always been socially shy and hangs around with boys most of the time. She is now in a new school and we got her in basketball over the winter. This was the first time she was on a team and it was a girls' team. She met Z. there.
In the last month, her relationship with Z has become more intense. They both really like each other and kiss and hang out whenever they get a chance. Lots drama in school because boys like Z and they are upset that she is with my gd. You know how 6th grade is. My gd has also taken to binding her breasts, so we looked up the safe way to do that and have put limits on her wearing the binding at home to prevent deformity and circulation problems. She is athletic and looking to get defined abs. I have no problems with any of this.
But, Z spent the night. My gd has boy friends spend the night and they sleep in the other room with my 9 yr old gs. But, not sure what to do about the girl who spends the night. Not sure if I need to limit them being together at night. They were up until 3:30am and then my gd says they slept in the same bed, rather than having Z sleep in a sleeping bag or top bunk. She says they kissed most of the night. Of course, Z has not told her parents she is "dating" my gd. Not sure if they would freak or not.
I would know what to do if she was attracted to a boy and would put limits on them sleeping in the same room and having too much physical contact.. Main reason would be to keep her from getting pregnant! But, that's obviously not an issue with Z.
There aren't any quidebooks on this so looking for advice on what to consider with her relationship as far as boundaries are concerned. I told my gd I would be getting some advice on this as I have never seen anything written on this before.
Any advice?
These are my other support groups to give you an idea of where I am at the moment:
Grandparents Raising Children
Breakups & Divorce
Families & Friends Of Addicts
Physical & Emotional Abuse
Parenting Teenagers (12-18)
Single Parenting
Diets & Weight Maintenance (Successful at this one!)
My granddaughter is 12.5 yrs old and is "dating" (as 6th graders call it) another girl, Z. A month ago 2 boys liked her and that was her focus, so think she is not sure where she fits. Very normal for this age.
My gd has never been a "typical" girl, but neither am I. She doesn't want to bare her body, so tends towards the boys section for clothes. Both her and I are straight up and down, so "boys" clothes tend to fit better and are not so skimpy and tight. We've looked up the history of fashion as what are "boys" and "girls" clothes tend to change with the ages. She has always been socially shy and hangs around with boys most of the time. She is now in a new school and we got her in basketball over the winter. This was the first time she was on a team and it was a girls' team. She met Z. there.
In the last month, her relationship with Z has become more intense. They both really like each other and kiss and hang out whenever they get a chance. Lots drama in school because boys like Z and they are upset that she is with my gd. You know how 6th grade is. My gd has also taken to binding her breasts, so we looked up the safe way to do that and have put limits on her wearing the binding at home to prevent deformity and circulation problems. She is athletic and looking to get defined abs. I have no problems with any of this.
But, Z spent the night. My gd has boy friends spend the night and they sleep in the other room with my 9 yr old gs. But, not sure what to do about the girl who spends the night. Not sure if I need to limit them being together at night. They were up until 3:30am and then my gd says they slept in the same bed, rather than having Z sleep in a sleeping bag or top bunk. She says they kissed most of the night. Of course, Z has not told her parents she is "dating" my gd. Not sure if they would freak or not.
I would know what to do if she was attracted to a boy and would put limits on them sleeping in the same room and having too much physical contact.. Main reason would be to keep her from getting pregnant! But, that's obviously not an issue with Z.
There aren't any quidebooks on this so looking for advice on what to consider with her relationship as far as boundaries are concerned. I told my gd I would be getting some advice on this as I have never seen anything written on this before.
Any advice?
If they made out all night, I wouldn't be comfortable with them sharing a bed - pregnancy concern or not. Teens don't get to have sleepovers with their dates at my house. It is the rules of my house.