Come on in boy, sit on down
And tell me about yourself
So you like my daughter, do you now?
Yeah we think she's something else
She's her daddy's girl
Her momma's world
She deserves respect
That’s what she'll get
Ain’t it son?
Hey y'all run along and have some fun
I'll see you when you get back
Bet I’ll be up all night
Still cleanin' this gun

This is the chorus from a popular country song by Rodney Atkins; albeit humorous, it just might be a pretty accurate portrayal of how many dads feel about their daughters dating. My own father often waited up for me when I went out, and though he didn’t own a gun, the look he flashed those boyfriends of mine certainly could have killed. These days, though, dating isn’t what it once was. Boys don’t always come to the door with flowers in hand, requesting permission to take a girl out on the town. In fact, many teens are dating younger and younger, despite the fact that their parents aren’t keen on the idea or, worse yet, don’t know they’re dating at all.

Back in my day, group dating was a popular alternative, especially for younger kids. The idea was that a huge co-ed group went to the movies, thus making it less tempting for couples to pair off and get into trouble or wind up with a broken heart. If I remember correctly, it didn’t always pan out so great. There were still plenty of hurt feelings, as well as the pressure to pair off lest one be stuck with the awkward one in the bunch.

We all remember our first real heartbreak, and most of us would do anything to see our kids don't check into that same hotel. With so much innocence already lost at such young ages these days, is it healthy for teens to date, or is it a waste of time? Are there valuable lessons to be learned in the process?  If you give your teens a thumbs up, at what age do you think it’s appropriate? Some agree there’s no point until the teen can drive, as most teen couples would rather die than be carted around in the backseat of their mom’s minivan. And for those opposed to the idea of teen dating, how did you broach the subject with your kids? Do you think they’re missing out, or do you believe they’ll be a whole lot better off by skipping out on potential heartache? There are plenty of question—tell us what you think!