when i was in my teens, back when dinosaurs ruled the earth, there was a simple rule regarding when it was appropriate to date: 16, period. now i know why.in a recent survey conducted by liz claiborne, 1 in 5 kids 13 - 14 years old said that they know someone their age in a physically abusive relationship. 50% said they know of someone their age in a verbally abusive relationship. and sex at these ages actually increases the risk of abuse.
got that moms & dads? it isn't 'cute', it isn't 'mature', it isn't 'the way things are nowadays': it's playing russian roulette with your kids' lives. here at elsewhen, we tend to swing to the left when it comes to social policy, but this is one issue where the old way is the best way.