Chaperon

You have a 13 year old daughter in 8th grade.  She’s popular.  Kids are always hanging around your house between the time she gets home from school and you get home from work.  The kids never go in.  You know this because your neighbors have told you as much.

(Parents, this isn’t the time to declare that your darling daughter or strapping son shouldn’t have a significant other, or didn’t have one, or doesn’t have one. I was a teacher.  I have had jobs that required me to be around kids without their parents. Y’all don’t know your kids, at all.  Sorry.  You know what they allow you to know.  Even they allow you to know some bad things, it only scratches the surface.)

You’re at home on a Sunday.  It’s just above freezing.  Two of your daughter’s friends come by.  They are both boys.  You recognize the name of one boy as her boyfriend because you’ve seen the text messages and email between the two of them.  You’ve also heard his name when she and her girlfriends get together.

Do you let the boys see your daughter?  In your house?  Or do you allow her to hang out with them under the condition they stay outside on the porch?

(Me?  I’d think it strange they both came over.  I’d think it strange that neither of their parents called to see if it’s OK.  I’d think it was strange that my kid thinks she can have any form of company in or around my house without permission. But, knowing how I am, I’d just call both of those boys’ parents up and let them know where they are.  I wouldn’t tell those kids anything.  Kids don’t always need to know about the parental network.  Let their asses just think we all have super powers and know things.  This is why I play auntie so well.  I’ll let your kids sit there and tell me all of their teen business.  Then I snitch–so long as the parents don’t tell the kids who snitch.  Smart parents never reveal their sources.)