Yarns by Adults

My 14-year-old daughter has started dating with this guy in school. This means, I should be watching her more closely now. She's only 14 for goodness' sakes! It's not that I'm over-reacting, I'm just being a mother.

She told me last week she would be attending a school dance next month, and she would be this guy. I forgot the name, some kinda Christopher or Kristoff, whatever. Anyway, it seems that my baby girl is already serious with this dating thing. Oh my!

Okay, she's 14 but she's already 5'4". Quite tall for her age, and she's a pretty girl, too. This Christopher or Kristoff might find my girl stunning or something that he's asking her out often now.

I started dating when I was already 17, just a few months from my 18th birthday. Probably because I was more serious with school than meeting boys that time. I actually told my children that, but you know, it's already the "new age."

I was even furious at first when my daughter first told me she hada crush on someone. She was 12 then. It was not serious, though. And I hope this time, too, this guy thing would also come to pass, or I'd really hate dealing with the fact that my only baby girl would be away most of the time with her guy. But she's only 14 for goodness' sake!

I already told her fatherabout this worry of minelast night, but he seemsnot to care. Oh,men! He told me I should not freak out, as our baby girl is "only" dating. Yes, dating, but what happens after that? What if they go somewhere, and you what else happens to young children now. Sweet nothings or someromantic whisper could lead to something, you know.

ButI'm just probably a worry freak, you know. So, okay I'm giving my girla chance to go out with boys evenif she's only 14. I just wish like what my husband said, it's only dating yet. I should pray harder now.

I actually don't have worries with her two big brothers, 19 and 21. Because of course, they're men. It's really different raising a girl in the family. I don't know if I was a problem to my parents when I was her age. Well, I was more focused on the "right stuff" that my mother and father did not have to tell me what to do everytime. But oh, kids! I just really hope I'm just a worry wart.