When your teen is ready to date

One day, your teen tells you about someone they fancy and all of a sudden you realise your teen isn’t a little baby anymore.

We know, it’s a scary feeling – especially when you can’t stop your child from heartbreak.

But, you can give your teen some advice on how they can have a healthy dating life because as you probably already know, it doesn’t get any easier!

Give as much as you get

Tell your teen not to open up too quickly. Walking at the same pace is important and if your child gets bit ahead of themselves, they might have their crush running the opposite direction.

Go with the flow

Again, the aim is to keep it cool. There’s nothing worse than a needy person – teenager or not, it’s not a pretty look. Tell your teen to refrain from speaking to their crush about wedding bells and future kids. If they just can’t keep it in and they want to talk about those things, then that’s what mums are for!

R.E.S.P.E.C.T

No good can come of a relationship where there is no mutual respect. Tell your teen to respect themselves and to also give respect back. It’s the only way things will actually work out with them – whether they want to get serious or not, respect is needed.

Don’t change for someone else

Speak to your teen about staying true to themselves. Make sure they continue to do hobbies they always liked and spend time with their good friends. If they try to mold themselves to become the ‘perfect’ person for their crush, it can actually go against them.

Listen to your instinct

Ask your teen what their gut is telling them about their new love interest. If there’s something not right, then they shouldn’t go further with it. It might hurt at the start, but it’s better for them in the long-run.

If you have a son or daughter who is going through their first heartbreak then you might find our tips useful.