Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-17
TEEN-AGE MAIL
By DOROTHY KICKER
Dear Mrs. Kicker:


am Is. If you Will publish my
letter I am sure YOU viii not only
be helping me but many other
girls. too. who have a similar
problem My parents don't mind
if I go out with a boy exactly my
age but as soon as ] begin dating
boy a little older there i trouble.
II isn't that ! have anything
against boys my age but they
seem so small and kiddisi and l
feel conspicuous when | am with
them. Then. too. many people
take me for l6 or even older. My
parents resent it very much be-
cause I am going with a very nice
boy who just turned IL. They
think il will develop into some
thing serious. even though I have
r told them Ralph is eeiug into the
Navy in a few weeks.
So. / won't be seeing much of
him although I will write. How
many privileges should girl of
Is have? If l were your daughter
what would YOU permit me to do
and what wouldn't I be per-
mitted to dO?-PAT.
Dear Pat:
Because many girls in their early
teens mature earlier and are taller
than boys of the same age. they
usually prefer to date boys who are
a little older. While I do not approve
of girls eating boys who are very
much older than they are. can see
Eothing wrong in a l5-year-old girl
dating a 17-year-old boy -provid-
ing he is a nice boy which. of course,
applies to boys of any age.
You asked me to list the priv
ileges and restrictions YOU would
have if you were my daughter. That
is a large order" and could fill a
book However. presume you were
referring primarily TO dating priv
ileges and restrictions
If you were my daughter. Pat. We
first would strive to build a feeling
of mutual trust. understanding and
confidence. Once / felt you were
dependable. trustworthy yCunester
/ would allow you to use your iudg-
ment about many things.
You would be allowed to date
Friday and Saturday nights with
perhaps an early date on Sundays.
These dates would include movies,
chaperoned parties and dances as
well as school sports events and
church affairs. Occasionally you
would be allowed TO dG'@ during the
week to attend a special event which
you could not see at any other time.
although while school is in session
I think it is wise for teen-agerS to
avoid mid-week dates and late
hours
You would be allowed to have
parties at home and would be
encouraged to bring your friends
tboys as well as girls into your
home.
At Is. you would be allowed to
have around town" car dates pro-
viding the boy was properly
licensed and had the reputation of
being a careful driver.
These privileges would be coupled
with the following restrictions. We
would agree beforehand on a time
for you to be home after a date.
depending on where you were
going and I would expect you to
be in at that time If a justified
reason for being late came up
during the evening I would want
you to call, IF POSSIBLE. and let
me know.
You would be expected to choose
your friends wisely and l would
want to meet and know something
about the boys YOU dated. You
would not be allowed to go to
places which 1 considered "out of
bounds such as bars. or places
frequented by undesirable people.
We would talk out" any differences
of opinion on an adult level with
out tears and tantrumSl. / would
respect your opinions and, if l
did not agree with you on an issue.
/ would at least listen and try to