C.C.
I don't have teenage children yet but I can remember being a teenage which I feel is important in trying to relate to a teenager. I have to say that giving him the boundary of not dating until he is 18 isn't ideal and will only cause him to rebel. The biggest thing is to talk to him about sex and having respect for himself and girls. No matter what you tell him he can't do...he is going to do what he wants because he's a teenager. The best parenting in the world isn't going to keep him from being a teen. There has to be a mutual understanding that you can accept and he will respect. Clearly he is only 15 and can't drive so you have the upper hand on his dating because you can allow him to date and still be a part of it. At 18 he can drive and do whatever he wants and without any experiece he could end up in a bad situation that could potentially ruin his life. I feel that at this point you can embrace his desire for a relationship and be a part of it but once he's 18 it's all up to him being without experience. When I look back at my teens it was all about my parents talking to me about sex and being prepared for it emotionally...I can't say that I didn't have sex at 16 but I was always careful and used condoms and made sure that it was something I wanted to do for the right reasons. I still got hurt but I knew that could happen and I don't regret any of my choices because I was taught by my parents what to expect when sex enters the picture. We all wish our children wouldn't have sex until they were 18 and that experience would lead to marriage and a family...but teens are teens. I feel that it's best to equip them for life by talking to them and not disregarding their thoughts or feelings but giving them the tools they will need to through their teens. Good luck.