TammyZed

I don't really think the statutory rape point is entirely valid.

What are the chances of a girl getting nailed for statutory rape of a boy who's only slightly younger than her? Those laws are in place to prevent older people from taking advantage of younger ones, not to make high school dating a legal headache.

Still, the rest are pretty valid. No birth control is 100%, and there's STD's, and it's just pretty inappropriate in general to let two teens, especially if they're dating, share the same bed.

Amber

Regardless of whether she's "Older" or not or female or not, it's still considered wrong in the eyes of the law, and if the parent of the boy wanted to complicate things, she could. And we're not talking about high school dating. High school dating consists of going to see a movie, grabbing a bite to eat, perhaps a walk through the park....not sex in the girl's parent's home.

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TammyZed

Oh, I'm certainly not saying that it's not possible. Just very unlikely. If the age of consent is sixteen, and he's only a few weeks/months shy as was suggested, there isn't a whole lot that will get done.

Didn't mean to sidetrack! Of course, the age of consent is an issue involved, but not a huge one.

High school dating isn't necessarily all movies and dinner, though. Something like four in ten teens lose their virginity in high school. It's not good, but it's not really bad or anything that these particular kids are having sex. I'm assuming both consent. I think it's a bigger issue that the parents seem to be facilitating it.

FooserX

What I think it wacky in 5 pages of discussion, is that no one is really talking about the emotional impact that having sex at such a young age has, as well as sex without being in a committed relationship. All I see are posts about pregnancy, STD’s, and the physical effects of this.

First of all, these kids may very well be “mature for their age”, but the key phrase is FOR THEIR AGE. No 15 or 16 year old is mature – period. End of story. They don’t know how to handle serious adult matters and sex is serious.

Secondly, by allowing these kids to knowingly have sex without being in a committed relationship, you’re basically reinforcing the idea that sex is informal and casual. Maybe that’s true in a lot of people’s lives today, but you don’t have to raise your kids like that (I know I won’t be!).

You’re also teaching them that it’s okay to shack up…and pretend to be in a marriage without honoring any of the real commitments and responsibilities that marriage requires. It’s sad to think that has become the norm of society, but don’t for a second think that there won’t be any very real consequences to teaching your kids this.

Lastly, I think these parents are setting a horrific precedence in the house. God forbid there are any other, younger, kids there to see this going on.

TammyZed

I thought they were?

I know, I know, you can't really call that a "committed relationship", but they're not just randomly hooking up. Give them some credit. I wouldn't consider sixteen "mature", but they aren't children either.

meow_173

Its not ok. My bf wasn't allowed to start sleeping over until we hit university, and even then he had to sleep on the pull out LOL

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HappyMomma

Sheesh... my first instinct is to say 18. But I'm going to have think about this for a bit.

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The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable.
~Lane Olinghouse

Trina

Wow, I TOTALLY agree with Fooser! (Never thought that would happen. LOL!)

Steve

Gawd, every parent should do everything they can to get the kid to wait.

My wife's oldest girl is now 18, and will present us with a baby in August. She started having sex when she was 14 (mom found them upstairs - he had climbed the tree) and never really stopped.

She has herpes, has had an abortion, and I'm currently paying off a $3,000 hospital bill for trich plus other infections. She has no diploma, no GED, no driver's skills nor license, no job. Last month the state finally prosecuted the father for various abuse and she had to testify against him. He hasn't been allowed near this house ever but we couldn't stop where she went.

The life consequences to the teen as well as everyone else in the house can be just devastating. I'm pretty sure I'll be supporting her and her kid born of Devil spawn for years to come.

HappyMomma

Wow!! Has she had any couseling for all this?

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The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable.
~Lane Olinghouse