My 13-year-old came home from his 8th grade DC trip with a girlfriend. First date is Friday. How do I help without getting in the way?
My oldest son is 13, almost 14. He just got back from his 8th grade trip to Washington DC and came home with a girlfriend. A girl asked for his number on the trip and they're going for ice cream this Friday for their first date.
He's a good kid, and I'd describe him as "a young soul". He's grown up a lot lately, but this is completely new territory for him. And honestly, for me too. I didn't start dating until I was 17 and also that was well before even cell phones were a thing so I'm not exactly working from experience here.
He's got a solid support system at home. My wife and I are both very involved and for most social things I usually defer to my wife, because she has a much more functional family in comparison to what I came from. However, I would like to be more helpful, especially in these situations.
On the note of cell phones, he has a phone but barely uses it, and it stays in the common area of the house.
I just want to know: how do kids this age actually "date"? Is there anything useful I can say to him? I feel like he's actually ahead of me in a lot of ways when it comes to handling social stuff. I don't want to make a bigger deal of it than it is, but I also want to be there if he needs something.
Any dads been through this with a son around this age? What did you do or say that actually helped?
Thanks crew!