Daughter and boyfriend

[Randall2]

Hi CF, I'm posting this thread to get some feedback from parents who've had similar experiences with their daughters. My daughter is sixteen and a junior. She has decent grades and is very extra-curricular. Recently she started dating a boy from her school. This is her first boyfriend. He's a very nice boy and a Christian. He and my husband especially hit it off(my husband a former Ranger and him joining the army this summer). All in all I think my daughter found a great boy...except for one little thing.
I've noticed that they're very intimate with each other. I don't mind a little bit off intimacy i.e hugging, holding hands. But they've gotten to the point where Ive wondered if I needed to step in. For instance, I went to pick her up from school and saw them engaging in some extreme lip locking by the front of the school. They seem to do this a lot when I'm not around. My husband says theyre just being kids but never dating as a teen I myself am not so sure. Is this normal? And how do I keep my daughter on the Christian path when it comes to relationships?

 

[Mike]

R2, first of all, welcome to CFnet!

As a father of 3, I share your concern. I'm surprised that your husband isn't more protective of his daughter. I'm not judging him. I'm sure he's a Godly, loving father, but I find myself a little bit more defensive with our daughters as opposed to our son.

How direct are your conversations with her? Have you had pointed conversations about what is not acceptable to you, and more importantly, what is honoring to God as she is in this season of her life? There are a lot of things that are "natural" or "typical" for teens, but that doesn't make some things right before God. I don't think making out is new or even all that bad, but it can stir their sexuality and lead to more, and it's just not showing her Godly best when done in public.

A little advice, aside from direct talk with her, is to gain agreement from your husband, even if he has to act like he agrees. She needs one message from her parents. Her father could share with her how boys view girls depending on how they act. And if it continues, he could have a talk with her boyfriend.

All in all, it sounds like you have a wonderful daughter! :yes It could be much worse, as I'm sure you know.