Poll: What Age Should Daughters Start Dating?

Tim Brown's daughter Heather will be 15 in November. Heather has been asking to date a boy named Steve since last year.

"I said 'no,' and I am maintaining 'no' until she's 16," Brown told Northeast Cobb Patch at the Prado Plaza on Barrett Parkway.

Brown said that Heather can see a movie or attend a school event with Steve so long as they are in a group of friends. "That was her mother's idea. I think seeing each other in school is enough. Kids need to focus on studies, not romance."

Charles Edwards said that his daughter, who is now in college, once told him that she hated him because he wouldn't allow her to date.

"My daughter wasn't allowed to date until 17. We argued about dating regularly," said Edwards. "More than once she said that she hated me-hated living in my house. It hurt, but I'd rather have her hate me than suffer a broken heart or pregnancy. It's about protecting your child, not being their friend."

Edwards said the boys that wanted to date his daughter had to come to the house and ask permission. "I believe that's a tradition worth keeping. You need to know who your daughter is associating with."

Brown agreed.

"Remember back in the day when the only option was to call a girl using a landline?" Edwards said. "I can remember calling a girl's house-praying her parents didn't answer the phone. Now, parents can be avoided."

One of his biggest concerns as a father, Brown said, is that men can use Facebook, email and texting to contact his daughter. "If I thought Heather was sneaking to see someone, or I caught her lying, I'd monitor her phone and computer, or limit her use."

Brown said that he knows who his daughter's friends are. They are Facebook friends.

When asked what advice he'd give dads whose daughters are coming of age, Brown said, "I believe the key is being real when talking to your kids. When I talk to Heather about dating, I tell her experiences I had or witnessed as a teenager and explain that is why I'm not allowing her to do certain things. I think it's important for kids to be reminded that our decisions regarding their lives come from our life experiences."

How do you handle dating in your family? Do you believe that having a boy come to your house to ask for permission to date your daughter is a good idea? Share your thoughts in the Comment Box below.