How old were you when you were allowed to begin dating? Was it the right age?

You were very wise, Aerous, to focus first and foremost on your studies before doing any dating at all. Education is a valuable thing and one's focus on it might waver when becoming interested in dating or romance. Karen

Hello karen, Even do I have crush on that time. It prevent me to court her, because It always reminds about my studies. I am fear because I though that I failed some of my subject, if I consider dating and studies. It really hard to studies Engineering, because of the subjects. It is quite difficult to pass any subject on that course, here in our country. Because one of the problem sometimes is the terror professors, that ready to failed you if make any mistakes even do it's not beyond the studies. Although it's hard to studies because you can surpass dating and the girl that you love or crush will left you from the school, because it took five years for the course. I persevere to finish my studies, to please my parents who had a big dreams for their children...

Hello Aerous. Yes, I have heard that engineering subjects are difficult and require much attention to detail. That could easily be distracted if one dates while trying to finish his education. I applaud you for seeing your studies through. I am sorry for such a late response. Karen

hi friend, in India parents are approaching matchmaker and invite to those persons who are suite for their children and then negotiations will go and then marriage was fixed,now online marriage brokers are available

Yugasini, I find this very interesting. I would like to know, do most of the married people who find a spouse this way end up happy? Or do more of them end up unhappy in their marriages. Karen

hi karen, in this system only 10 percent of failures only,thanks for the comment

Karen! Yes, I also think that if parents are strict and maintain discipline in the house, children also behave like-wise. Also, good points of other cultures should be adopted, it will give shape to a healthy socity.

Hi Deepak. Oh, no apology necessary and your response does not in anyway disappoint me. Education should be ranked as 1st priority when we are young. The more I read of the practices of other cultures, the more I think the USA should adopt some of them. We have such high teen pregnancy rates and it would be wise to follow the lead of other countries: education first. No dating until it is completed! Your parents did well by you :) Karen

You are so right, Deepak...learning from other cultures is very important! And parents are indeed the ones to set a good example and be the people in charge. Children do not know early on what is in their own best interest. That only comes with guidance, time, and experience. Please pardon my late response. Karen

thank u so much..great discussion though...

You are very welcome :)

Hi Drdivu. I am noticing that dating or marriage varies greatly from one culture to the next. I feel that here in America, we perhaps date too young, long before we are mature enough to make the wisest decisions. What you say makes a lot of sense to me. I appreciate your input. Karen

Hello my friend PeacefulWmn9 Ji, So nice for your expressions as per your culture. Our side, it is taken for granted and it is borth right of parents to settle the marriages, so in case, if same thing is done by dating, then it becomes easy for parents. Next thing, emerging out id lberty to individual, I have still to understand, when my children become and turn away 'individual' and they can think better than parents for their welfare. Why were thyey not allowed to think, afetr they took birth, they should have come up of their own. Where was the independency as an individual. Our thinking is entirely different, a child can never become parent, so child is a part and parcel of all parents. My this concept is based on our customs and traditions. But I value your customs and traditions. May god bless You and have a great time.

Hello, my friend. It is our custom in the USA that parents do not choose a spouse for their children, but that at a certain age, each person can choose a spouse themselves. It is nothing to do with relieving the parents of such a decision, but rather a line of thinking that the right to choose something so important belongs to each individual. We do not always choose wisely, of course, but then again, many people do select the right mate for themselves. The purpose of "dating" is so that young men and women can socialize and get to know one another. Some date a few, or many, or only one before deciding who they love and want to marry. Others remain single for their whole lives. God bless you. There is much to be admired about your culture. Karen

Hello my friend. Our parents are always our parents and good parents deserve our respect, however old we get. But it does require independence for us to raise our children when we, too, become parents. But always, I respect my mother's wisdom and advice, just as I would hope my own children will respect mine. It is good to know of other cultures :) Karen

wow..very rightly said..!! totally agree with u...

You are so right. Life does take the exam and only then teaches the lesson. Our choices greatly impact our future happiness or the lack of it. And when young, it is best to listen to our parents until we can make wise decisions for ourselves. Karen

Hi Soulist. I have similar feelings about having dated so young. It was forbidden once my parents saw that I was too young to handle the emotions that go with relationships. I am glad they did that, and I made my own daughters wait until older. We live; we learn, as they say :) Karen

Hi Phayeth. That seems to be a common age here in the states for dating to begin. Do you feel it was the right age for you? Karen

Hello :) Yes, we sometimes, when very young, tend to rebel against authority without any truly good reason. But once there is nothing to rebel against, we tend to become less so. :) Karen

Hello Vijay. I believe your opinions are valid whatever they are, not right or wrong. Your insight makes sense to me, as do the standards and culture on dating of India. Perhaps the accepted limits require a chaperone? If so, that sounds like a good idea. Karen

Hello Ds. "Friendship" dates sound like the more responsible thing to do when in the younger teen years. And yes, for serious dating, 19 is a much better age, since we have done a bit of maturing in those few years :) Karen

LOL, Ann. You are so sweet and kind, who would have guessed you for a rebel?? LOL Group dating is an excellent idea, as kids can keep one another "in check." Well, unless they all decide to be a bit rowdy together! It is the normal thing here, too, for parents to approve who the kids date. Take care and have a great day. Karen

Hello Blue. Yes, even when we are 18 and out of the house, our parents still often see and know things that are best for us that we do not yet know. Even now, I highly value my mother's advice and opinions on things. My best of wishes to you. Karen

Hi Choang. As I get older, I do believe that the truly stricter parents are the wisest ones. Seventeen, as long as it doesn't distract from school, sounds like a good age to start dating :) Karen

Hi Pat, I am only about a year behind how you did things. Dated at 15; married at 18. I am happy that it did not turn out badly for you, truly. I do wish I had waited until I was mature enough to choose wisely. Karen

Hello Guna. Hm, I would say from just reading what you have written and how you express your thoughts that you a plenty smart. I agree with you that 18 is a far better age to begin dating than I did at 15. Education should be the most important thing in our teen years. My best wishes for you! Karen

Hello Jshekhar. I am happy that you have found a young lady of whom you think so highly. Like you, if you are happy with the person you already have, it would make no sense to date others. Thank you for your input :) Karen

Hi Mohdhayri. You are very intelligent in knowing that the teens years are not always the best or wisest for us to begin dating. Twenty seem better, as you said. Thank you for your input :) Karen

Hi Emmasmomma. Yes, good parents sometimes know us when we are teens better than we know ourselves! I am glad it all worked out well for you and that you are now happily married with your own family :) Karen

Hi Davey, lol, I think a lot of us are a bit "goofy" when we're teenagers. And yes, parents do tend to be more lenient as far as dating ages with boys than with girls. Thank you for your input! Karen