Sir

Chet and I are big advocates of teens dating. We talk to our boys all the time about dating. They love to hear stories about when we were dating (each other and others).  We show them weekly how exciting it is. They get to see me get "dolled" up every week and ask them what shoes and jewelry to wear and how to wear my hair. They used to make fun of me and say how crazy I was, but now they all give their two cents. I told them to remember that some day girls will be doing the same thing for them. We tell them exactly how they need to do it. We set up the absolute IDEAL situation, that you know will never be accomplished, but set the bar high, right? We were awesomely surprised at how it sunk in!

Last night we were at a concert for Caden. Afterwards, I was telling some of his friends that sang solos how awesome they were. I heard someone say bye to Vellamy, a name I have heard several times because she lives down the street, but I had never met her. I introduce myself to her mom and tell her that I am Caden Parkers mom. She smiles really big and says, "Your son is the blonde with short hair... really outgoing?!!!" I shook my head thinking that was probably him. She then says, "My husband and I LOVE your son! When he came down to get Vellamy one day to play her dad was there. He walked right over to him and shook his hand and said 'Nice to meet you sir'. He is such a great, polite boy!"

We have told the boys that when they are 16, they need to ask a girl out face to face. Not through text or on the phone. Then they need to go pick her up. When they pick her up, they need to shake her dads hand and tell him that its nice to meet him and tell him your plans for the night. Then you need to ask what time she needs to be home. Then you open all the doors for her, drive VERY safe with her in the car AT ALL TIMES, with another couple of course, pay for the date, and then return her home at least 5 min before curfew. Then if they make it home in time for their curfew of the night and turn off the alarm before it goes off, they get the money on top of it to pay for their date (because I hate hearing that boys don't date because they don't have the money. We are constantly telling them dates that they can do as teenagers in groups that are really cheap. The great thing about groups is that there are lots of boys to split the cost of hot dogs and buns for things like a bon fire! Or ice cream sundaes (free if they come over here!) We have told them that if they bring them over to our house for dinner, its free! And we'll even make it little brother free if they plan to have a group for dinner in advance.

These are the IDEAL situations that I said we hope to achieve. Do I realize that MOST won't happen? Of course! But we try to show every chance we get why we date like the prophet says. And, like Caden already did with Vellamy's dad, we hope that some of it sinks in and does take root. So proud of my little Cade-A-Babe!!! He is such a "free spirit" that I hope he listens every now and then. The response he got from them has hopefully concreted in his head the need to meet and respect their dads! When I was retelling Chet the story, Chet was smiling and turned to Caden and said, "I'm proud of you bud!" and Caden says, "What? That's what you guys told me to do!" Always think that way Caden... Always think that way!!!