Pre Teens and Fathers

I think maybe you and your husband should sit down and iron out rules that you both can live with, and then sit down with the girls and explaine them. there has got to be some middle ground where you will all be happy with... or at the very least you and your husband will be happy with. The girls will understand eventually. Trusting them is good, but sometimes things happen even to good girls, and it might not even be something they wanted to do. (I guess I am probly a bit over protective too, and I don't have any girls...) but for the sake of all of you I would suggest making rules you can all live with, maybe find out exactly what it is your husband is afraid of that makes him so strict.

P.,
I thought I would give you a different perspective from someone who is not in your place as a mother but more so just recently came out of a home where dad was overly strict. I'm 27 and a mother of baby girl who is 8 months old. I've been married almost 4 years. My father has been a preacher for over 32 years, and we were raised very strictly growing up. My 2 olders sister (twins - now age 30) and I were home schooled until high school, at which point we started attending public school. We were VERY sheltered and were great students and had great morals, and still do have great morals and are spiritually in tact with our God. BUT we felt our dad was way too strict with us (at the time it didn't feel fair but now we understand), but looking back I wish he would have been stricter. We were up to no good when we were finally let out of the house and our parents had NO idea. I definetely wish Dad would have said 'no' more - now looking back on all the stupid things we were doing when we had late curfews and were allowed to hang around anybody we wanted to. Even our 'good friends' were not good influences and our parents were clueless. I would say that what we needed in our home was less time out with friends, but more time talking with our parents - safe conversation - about the things we encountered. We were not allowed to talk about kissing, sex, alcohol, drugs, or anything for that matter, therefore we were that much more curious about it. After watching how my parents handled the situation and listening to you I would recommend to you what I plan to do with my girls. Give then strict rules and curfews. Provide a safe place for them to talk freely, and let them b/c they have questions and will come to you if you are a safe place and they will learn so much for that. When dad says no, back him up and make the girls respect his authority as father. It sounds like your girls don't respect him to the degree they should, because when my father told us 'no' if we showed that we were upset about it we were in trouble b/c of disrespect. In the end all three of us girls love our father and think he did a great job raising us, but wish there would have been more strict rules in place. Dad knew what boys were like, and I wish he would have kept that in mind when letting us go hang around them. As women we don't understand the sexual impulses of those boys. But father's do. Just relax and remember that your girls are awesome, great students b/c of good parenting to this point. There is no need to start changing parenting techniques now. Keep doing what you are doing, b/c it sounds like you are doing a great job. Teach your daughters to be respectful of the decisions that their dad makes. And when you do argue with your husband do it in private, out of the girls sight and sound, and continue to fight for what you believe in, but never at the expense of teaching your daughters to disrespect either of you. The world out there is a lot worse now than when I was a child, and when you were a child. Keep that in mind and remember that God gave those 5 girls you and your husband to take care of, and between a good balance of him and you - yall are the parents God wanted for them. I think its easy to want to give your children the things they want and in turn they like you, but we are not called to be their friends but their parents to look over them. They may not understand 'no' now, but the 'why' will come later on when they grow up. I think we have to fight to protect our kids in this day and age. I thougth I'd mention the reason I say very little about my mom is b/c she was an inactive parent, but I do love her dearly. I always remember her saying, "Well if that's what your father said then why are you asking me?" They were like a brick wall together. And I totally respect that now.

P.,
I am in a similar situation but I have teenage boys. My husband is their stepdad but we have been together for over six years. My boys are good looking are are involved in many sports, they are good students and I have done my best (and will continue) to mold them into gentlemen with respect and integrity. I am a very strict parent myself. I have struggled with letting them do things and have learned that no matter waht we say or do, they must experience life on their own to learn from it. I do however, make sure I know where they are at all times. I have them check in whenever they are out with friends. Every hour to hour and a half they must call and let me know they are still in the same place and who they are with. If changing locations they must call and tell me where they are going and who will be there. I set curfews and I know most of their friends. I also make sure that wherever they are going a parent is usually around. (unless they are at a park or something like that) I check with parents and most parents feel the same way. If kids are here at my house, I make sure their parents know they are there and have spoken to many of them. Open communication is key (as are cell phones). My questions every conversation are...where are you going, who will be there, what time will you be back, and what time is your next check in time.

Kids have to have some freedom because if you don't allow them that, they will rebel and end up doing things behind your back. I understand fully where you are coming from and I hope you and your husband will set up a system that works for both of you. Good luck and God bless

I think you and your husband should talk about things and lay ground rules down. I never went through that with my mom and I was the ONLY girl and the oldest. I didn't get to go to sleep overs until High School. You and your husband need to be on the same page.

I have to agree with the lady whose father was a preacher. You must allow your husband to be the absolute athority figure in your home. Of course you trust your girls and until this point they haven't shown a reason not to trust them. That is how I was... I was the best child and my mother never thought I would get into any kind of trouble because I was so level-headed however, I proved her wrong. I wanted to be liked and to be cool and had no idea how much different boys thoughts were from girls. You may want to be lenient with your girls, but if something bad ever happened because you "trusted" them, you would never forget it. I think it is definitely more important to protect your children than have them like you! When they are adults they will thank you, because you saved them from a lot of heartache!
There is so much more out there that lures our children the wrong way and sometimes by the time we see what is happening it is too late.
Your husband is a man and knows how boys/men think. He only wants to keep his precious girls from getting hurt, pregnant or from getting an STD, etc. etc.
Also, the fact that your girls are already so developed definitely is going to make them feel more sexy which could lead to sexual activeness.

Although I am now 30 years old, I'm going to answer this from a teenagers point of few.

My mother was laid back and let myself and my brother do pretty much whatever we wanted to as long as it wasn't illegal, or harmful. My father on the other hand was strict and didn't let ME do anything. I made good grades, and helped keep the house clean, but I still couldn't do anything if I asked when he was around.

I soon began to rebel. I didn't clean anymore, I wouldn't come out of my room, and the only time I was happy was when I was at school. I finally started sneaking out of the house. I would leave as soon as I got home from school and wouldn't come back until 10 or 11pm. (I was just hanging out with my females friends.) When I would come home, I would hear about it from my mom and my dad, and didn't really care. As long as I got out of the house.

The few times I did ask to go anywhere, my mom was caught in the crossfire of my dad and I. I must say the house was quite a mess. I look back now and wished I hadn't of acted like that, but I the time I just wanted to hang out with my friends.

If your husband won't budge on letting your daughters do things, get ready for things to get ugly. From personal experience, they will rebel and more than likely, they will win. Let him know, from a pre-woman point, that she isn't going to do things she shouldn't do unless she feels like she needs a man to understand her. Most girls with a good relastionship with their fathers don't have sex and babies at early ages.

I hope this helps, and please have your husband read this. Maybe he will be more willing to take advice from someone looking in. And please understand, he should be strict. Boys and girls grow up so fast these days. But there has to be some trust there, or else their relastionship will only begin to fall apart.

Well I feel you need to back your husband on what ever he says no about. You can't be your childrens friend and it seems like you are trying to. Also no matter how good your daughters are and how much you taught them they will still do what they want. I myself was not like that,but I knew girls who were. Listen to your husband he was a young guy at one point in his life and he knows how guys are and think. He is simply trying to protect these girls. I think it may be time for you to, to start being more cautious because you don't want to become a grandma this early, it wouldn't be good for anyone if that happened.

P.,
You are not alone. I've been there and done that and it is tough.
You and your husband some how have to come to some kind of understanding with the girls. My husband and I split several times over our kids because I'm like you and he was really strict. Only after we had counciling did we really learn how to handle the kids with each others understanding.
I can say that if you have taught your girls right from wrong and how to be ladies and had the dreaded sex talk with them, they were paying attention even thou you aren't so sure they did. My daughter chose to live with my parents at the age of 14 and the state law was on her side unless i wanted a long drawn out legal battle with my parents and her. anyway, long story short, even thou we only had her with us for the first 14 yrs of her life, everything that we had taught her or talked to her about did sink in and she does remember and makes good judgement calls.
You have got to give the kids a little room to be kids and do what kids do. Your husband may be remembering what all he done as a kid their age and is worried some guy may do the same only with his daughters. Dad has got to realize his girls are growing up and he will have to let go and believe that he and you have taught them well.
But most of all when the girls ask to do something, you need to check with your husband to get his point of view and if you disagree then you discuss it until you come to a compromise. but do this away from the girls. It's the older boy's i'd worry about, they know more.
as far as your mother and father in law moving in. Honey I'm sorry to hear that. Do not let them try to run anything in your house, especially the kids. Do not give the grandparents any say over the girls what so ever. That is part of the reason my daughter chose to leave home at 14. I know they are your parents, but 2 families cannot live under one roof for long. Good luck.

Hi sweetie no you are not the only one, i am a mother of two but my husband thinks the same way as yours. My way of thinking is that you need to give them a little freedom or they are going to try to rebel and do it behind your back. You need to try to trust that they will make the right decision . And like you said you rasied them knowing right from wrong and if they do something wrong then punish them but dont punish them by not letting them try . My husband is also a wonderful man, father, and a hard worker , but we have separated twice now becasue of the same reason. It has helped in our situaion becasue now i can stop him and remaind him of when we were kids but i dont recomend it because its really hard or at least it was on my 5 year old. And good luck on the inlaw thing on top of everything that has got to put some strain on things to . If you ever need to talk you can email me at ____@____.com. I know the name sounds funny but my 14 year old made it up . Good luck! A.

please call me so I can share my story ###-###-####. I can help.

Congratulations..its seems to me that you have a wonderful family...First of all I haven't been in that situation yet, cuz my kids are young, but they do have their playdates here and there, except I always go with them...Have you ever asked yourself WHY? your husband doesn't let your girls be well girls....Its just my opinion but read through the lines of anything and everything your girls do and what your hubby does with them...I don't mean to startle you but it happens...that thing we don't ever want to think about because he is your husband and their father...Please maintain have a good relationship with your girls as far as them telling you EVERYTHING that happens in their lives...don't judge them, make them feel that they can tell you everything and anything regardless of who or what it is....**Explain to your husband that they are growing up and they have to experience things for themselves or else how are they going to function, when the inevideble happens...they need to be ready for anything, especially the older girls, there is alot of peer-pressure out there and if they have never experienced it, how are they going to learn to control it or overcome it...**I hope this helps and gets you thinking....MAY GOD BLESS YOU and GUIDE YOU THROUGH THIS TOUGH TIME...

M.

I think you should support the hubby on this one. No matter how "good" you girls seem to be. The pre teens and teens, bring alot of changes. Teenage girls in general are very manipulative, and you need to stand united as a couple. Now is not a time to be "in the middle" discuss the ground rules with your husband so there are no surprises for the girls. Rules and boundries are very important now. They are not old enough to be making their own decisions. Good luck.

Thats pretty rough. I kmow all kids no matter if they are girls or boys they all need to have time for them selves. I also know that if you dont let them go places and make minor mistakes that they can become wild . and that is not ganna be pretty since two are teens . I pray that you find a solution soon . Good luck !

My husband and I have the same issues with our kids. I have a 17(son) 15(daughter) 14(son) 9(daughter) and my husband allows my 17 year old to have sex (not in my house), purchases condoms for him and allows his little girlfreinds to come over. My 15 year old daughter he has a fit when she talks to boys but when my son was my daughters age he allowed him to talk to girls. I told him its wrong regardless of there gender if one did it at 15 the others should be allowed. It took some time but I kept doing what you are doing as far as telling him we taught them to be responsible, give them a little freedom or they will take it and start doing stuff behind our backs or skipping school. So I put it on paper.

I would encourage you to make up a plan with your husband about at what age can they talk on the phone, have company over, or play with boys. Then negotiate and have rules in place. I finally got my husband to agree by putting it in writing. So now my daughter can talk on the phone, watch tv, and have internet privileges Friday- Sunday with 6pm cutoff time on Sunday. Monday - Thurs(focus on school, read a books, etc.) She can only have boy company when we are home and only in our livingroom or yard. We have the younger kids sit with them and report back and we check on them often as well. She is not allowed to go to any boys house at all, if she does she looses all privileges. This has really worked. Any boy she talks to we talk to there parents to let them know about our rules. Anytime the boy comes over we talk to his parents and make sure its ok, that way no one is in the dark and she can't sneak over to his house because his parents know we do not allow it and will report it to us.

When you figure out the answer...please let me know :)

i gess im writing from a teen prespective my mom was pretty laid back (no dad) and we had pretty open lines of communication but there are just some things you dont tell your parents anyways i had sex when i was 13 (and i wasnt very developed) so find a compromise with you hubby i wish i had , had a dad to care cause thats all hes doin is lookin out for his babies

P.- Moms get in a tough spot when it comes to Daddies and their Daughters.

One thing that you can do - although with your home situation, this may be tough in terms of space and adding any more people into the mix - is to make YOUR house the place where the neighborhood kids WANT to hang out. That way, your kids still have an opportunity to be with THEIR friends, and you and Dad will have a way of keeping tabs on WHO they're spending time with, and WHAT they're doing. Maybe a "movie nite" - let your 2 oldest invite a friend or two apiece, pick up a rental movie, and microwave popcorn...

For sure, though, you and your husband need to get on the same page and present a UNITED front in FRONT of the girls. Even if you disagree privately on how much flexibility and freedom they should have. Once the girls realize that you are divided, it will be divide and CONQUER!

Good luck to you!

I dont have teenagers yet, but I was on just a few years ago. I understand your position very much as my mom was like you and my father well not some much. The first thing you need to do is talk to your husband very seriously, and explain this. If you keep your girls locked in their rooms until they go to college, when they do go and get a little freedom its going to be all over they will and I promise you they will go wild!!! And try everything possible from sex to drugs because they didnt have any freedom at home...Continue to let them go out and stay at friends houses hang out with boys and go to the mall....ITS NORMAL!!!! That way they have some life experiences before they go off into the real world without you or her father to tell her NO!!! Believe me in the long run your girls will be better off, letting them have some freedom is a good thing, they need to have a life outside of there home. Good luck with your husband, I hope he can understand this.

Hi,
I am the mother to 5 as well. Mine are a mix of both boys and girls though (boy 13, girl almost 12, boy 7, boy 2 and girl 7 months.) First of all, what I'm about to tell you is only my own beliefs and system of doing things. I do NOT let my 12 yr old daughter or 13 year old son cruise the neighborhood unsupervised with other children of the opposite sex. They are allowed to play and visit other kids in the neighborhood, provided that they stay on our street, and that I know who they're with, and that I know the parents. My daughter is very beautiful too (I'm not just biased, people constantly tell us she should model, and always have told us that since birth.) However, because of this, both my husband (who is her step father) and myself are concerned, yet we have an understanding with all of our children...if they want the privelage of going to friends houses or chaperoned school parties/dances, then we MUST know who they're hanging out with, when, where and which adults will be there (and we ALWAYS talk to the parents first, before allowing them over.) I guess, my advice to you is to know who, when, where, what, etc. when it comes to your kids. I'm not naive, I know that as they get older (and some things now) I will never know/hear about. Although, we try not to be judgmental about everything (sometimes it's hard) and keep the lines of communication open between us and our kids. Also, marriage is a partnership, even after your kids move away, you and your husband are all that's left. A good, strong marriage with support and communication are keys to a successful life together! I suggest that you know where each stand on these issues and compromise. You don't have to follow everything each of you wants, but if you both give in a little it could go a long way. My husband and I try to compromise on everything that we disagree about (sometimes it's hard when you both want it your way) but if you keep working at it and try to look at things in another perspective, you might realize that the other way or a comparable way is even better! Good luck!

It sounds like you have a wonderful and caring husband. No matter how GOOD your girls may be all children need reasonable boundries. Your husband knows exactly what those boys her age are thinking. If you remember what you were thinking at that age I think you would stand by him. My parents were more strict than other kids parents and I was upset with them, but now I am older I thank them over and over that I didn't turn out like my friends with all that freedom. I always seem to be preaching, but I really want you to understand how important it is to work with your husband for the better of the children. I know from experience that all the extras moms have in thier life they lose sight of the big picture. Stand with your husband your girls will thank you later. Someone gave me a book by Dr Laura. The proper care and feeding of husbands. I was dismayed to see all the ways I was treated my husband poorly.=o) Good luck on what ever decision you make. Sincerely, R.

I agree, a lot, with your husband. I was a good girl, good student (valedictorian), not a speck of trouble that you could see. But for the grace of God and luck I could have been pregnant by 15, I experimented with smoking and drinking before I got out of high school - I stayed away from drugs out of sheer fear.

I think that parentally supervised group activities are awesome, but letting girls your daughter's age hang around in groups and with boys is asking for and inviting trouble.

Good luck.