Chances are, you feel like you were old enough last year, but your parents, well, they’re not so sure. If you’re serious about dating and want your parents to let you out of the house every now and then, sit down with them and have a serious talk. But not before you go over the finer points of making your argument stick.
Your Parents Want What’s Best For You
This is a true thing. They really aren’t trying to cramp your style or hold you back or keep you out of the arms of that guy you’re into. They’re sincerely worried about you and want what’s best. If you go into your talk with this in mind, you won’t be on the defensive. Being defensive is just going to prove your parent’s point – that you’re not ready to date.
Everybody there wants you to be safe and happy – you just have different ideas about how to make that happen. Let them know you understand this and you’re willing to work with them on the subject.
Be Open To Compromise
Negotiating house rules with your parents means that no amount of talking or wearing them down is going to get you the freedom you want the first time out of the gate. Showing your willingness to work with them and work up to more freedoms will let them know that you have the maturity to handle the situations you will come across while dating.
Offer To Have Them Be Heavily Involved At First
They want to meet the guy ahead of time? No problem. They want a phone number of where you’ll be? Sure. Do they want you to call 8 times every hour to check in? Okay. Do they want to know who else will be there, have all your dates during the day and not last more than two hours or past sundown? Absolutely.
These restrictions won’t last forever but if it means that you get to start dating sooner than they originally wanted you to, then it will be worth it. Part of what your parents are worried about is that they’ll lose their place in your life. By showing them that you have no problem with giving them all the details and letting them meet everyone, will also let them know that just because you’re interested in dating, it doesn’t mean that you’re trying to box them out of your life.
Follow The Rules
If your parents say no dating, then don’t date. Don’t sneak out. Don’t say you’ll be at the library or sleeping over a friend’s house when you’ll really be out with some guy. Getting caught in a lie or getting caught in the sense that they know you lied even though they can’t prove it, is only going to delay legitimate dating privileges. If your parents tell you to be home by 10 pm, then be home a little bit early. If they want you to call to check in, call twice. Building up good faith is only going to work to your advantage in the end – not to mention, if anything should happen to you when you need their help, then your parents will know right away because you will have always called in the past.
