Teenage Dating - Van Buren,MO

legally yes... morally i don't think so... i know this may be hard to do but i think the best thing to do is support your daughter or you may be the one who gets hurt in the end... i wouldn't condone letting him live in your house since you don't approve but i think you have to let her make her mistakes.... lord knows my mom let me fall many many times and every time she was there to dust me off i have one of the best things in my life b/c of one of those falters my six year old i wish i would've listened to my mom b/c i lost a lot of my childhood when i was your daughter's age taking care of a baby alone... but i wouldn't trade him for anything... i have no doubt that your daughter will get bored and move on... 17 is a difficult age and your daughter is going through a difficult period... just be there to dust her off when she hits rock bottom... that is the only thing you can do. as much as it hurts you, you have to be supportive even if you don't agree

Besides showing a lack of character in the officer, it probably is not against the law. You will have to check with your city or county's age of consent. Here is 16. You could always call an attorney or the DHS. It just depends on how serious you are about separating them. I wish you the best of luck. Teenages can be so difficult.

Hi there,

My husband is MPI in the Army (Military Police Investigator), so I made sure to ask him this question before responding. He stated "sorry to say, but most states have not upped their age law to 18, most is at 16. Her situation is not the best in the world, nor the best decision on either part, but..." (and left it hanging).

We're from Alabaster originally, we both grew up there. I'm sorry to offer the bad news, but yes, it looks like the age 17 is legal. I find it ironic that young adults cannot really do much of anything until their 18 and then on top of that have to have some credit established in order to go anywhere in life, but yet they can date and marry at such a young age.

I wish you luck in the coming life changes, and if it is a true love between them, a peace of mind and heart in the future.

Sincerely,
R.F.

I know it can be hard when you disapprove of a child's choice, but at 17 years old, you run the risk of breaking any chances of a relationship with your daughter if you try to sabotage her relationship. My husband and i were together for 4 weeks and we both knew the other was the one. We have been married for 7 years and together for 8 1/2 and never have separated... not even for a night! Police officers are subject to obeying the same laws we all are and if the law recognizes her as able to give consent, there is nothing you can do. If you really love her, you don't have to like her decisions, but you should be there for her. If you give her an ultimatum, you risk losing her. My parents chose their religion over me , and speaking from experiance... it was their loss. I am a successful woman with a great husband and two amazing kids they don't get to see. If her choice is a mistake, let it be HER mistake.. not yours. Just be there to help her pick up the pieces if it fails or celebrate with her if it flourishes! If it goes bad, it's one of those lessons we all have to learn on our own. If it works out, you have an incredible addition to your family and perhaps beautiful grandbabies you will cherish forever. Please don't rush to judge.... some 17 year olds are smarter than parents give them credit for. As a parent, your job is to worry from afar at a certain age. We can't live their lives for them, but we can hope everything we taught them will be that little voice in their heads that helps them along the way. Good luck with your daughter!

So glad that things worked out for you and your daughter. I will pray that things continue to stay on the right path.
Take care and God Bless!

NO she is not of legal age until she is 18, UNLESS you allow it.

M., after posting this I saw your response. That is great the choice she made. Seems she is learning what responsibility is. That is a great think to be able to instill in our children.

Good luck and God bless

It depends on what state you live in as to what the law is there. Some states are real strict but others are not. You might even check with the police chief where he works and find out what their regulations are.

I would find out what police station he works at and make an appointment to speak to his supervisor. She is still a minor, and yes she will be upset that you do this, but it is for her own good. This police officer knows what he is doing is not right, but maybe he needs to be reminded by a higher athority.

I just read your update. I hope and pray she means what she told you, but as a parent of a rebelous teenage girl myself, my advise to you is just watch her. I can't tell you the number of times my daughter has told me she would not do something, and the next week I catch her red-handed.

M.,
I can't say if it's legal or not, but I would certianly agree that it is inappropriate. I would call the Police Chief or the police departments "customer relations" department & simply ask if there is a protacal in place that deals with issues like this.
Keep in mind any negitive action you take could cause your daughter to rebell more.
Even though they have broken up - it might not be for good. Plus - I always knew when to tell my mother "what she wanted to hear".
Good luck & keep praying!!!
K.

Well first of all i really do not think that there is anything that u can legally do about this situation even thou it's sad but true the law is suppose to be there to serve and protect and you would think that a mature male officer would look more into his age range but i quess not so maybe we need to question that if it was his child would he approve? So i think that the best things that u can do is to keep talking to your daughter and try to get her to see what you are trying to tell her and keep praying for her and tell her to also pray about the matter and ask god for directions and i know that there is no way that thing can go wrong.