The best thing about the age 16 rule was not that the girls couldn't handle it but that the worst boys were automatically excluded because they had paired off with someone else's daughters by then.
The end result is that we have three of the nicest and sweetest young ladies any parents could be blessed with as daughters.
I’m writing this down......
(my girls are 9 & 12. Dad is a former Marine. You have given me a plan!)
The same went for mine. I know nothing about parenting daughters, I have 3 sons. I also took the time to raise them with the understanding that they would have to provide for their women because the type of woman they should be looking for would want to put her priority into raising his children, just like their dad did in marrying me. All around them during their teenage years they saw the destruction of a typical teens life. They watched their friends make huge mistakes, and they really got it. I also subscribe to the idea that kids (at least in all the major religions) are considered adults at 12 or 13, that this is God ordained,especially because their bodies are ready to bear children at this time, and they are therefore capable of thinking clearly IF THEY ARE EXPECTED TO, and given the proper education (that is my job, not the schools).
For my efforts (training up a child the way he should go) and through the grace of God almighty, I have a 22 year old who is getting married in Jan to a wonderful woman, and they are waiting until marriage to act that way(if you get my drift) and using natural family planning to honor and respect the sexual act in marriage and space their births, my middle son is going into seminary next fall to become a catholic priest-he will be 18 in April, and my youngest is finishing up homeschooling and going on to computer sciences in the next year or so (16). He plans to marry one day and have a “boatload” of kids LOL. Both my oldest son and youngest have decided to homeschool their kids, and have asked me to help when the time comes....
Thank you for raising worthy daughters! There are some of us raising worthy sons for them........
Good for you!
My father instituted the same rule, in addition to no makeup til that age (and even after that, my parents had the right to veto anything they deemed ‘too much’...something that carries with me today).
My dad would greet the young man at the door; I was required to be upstairs, out of sight, until my dad called me, in case the fellow didn’t pass muster. Then, my father had a 30-minute lecture, containing such gems as, “I want her returned to me in the same condition in which she leaves” and “She will be home by midnight. If she is not, it is your fault. It doesn’t matter if the car breaks down: it’s your fault. It doesn’t matter if she makes you late: it’s your fault. And you won’t be taking her out again.” Etc.
Every boy in school knew they had to go through dad to get to me. And that weeded out the jerks, for the most part (thanks, Dad).
My husband intends to be cleaning his firearms as he gives a similar speech when our daughter reaches 16....