Okay, I have to say I'm pretty impressed. My son now has a cute little "girlfriend" at school. She asked him if he wanted to be her "boyfriend". He's 13. She's 13. They are in the same class, and honestly it's more like a friendship than anything, considering their ages. His dad (me), well....I was a typical school geek who got shot down by every girl until I was about 17, and then quite a few after that.
I'm really impressed because my son has Asperger's Syndrome, and for those who are not familiar with it, it's a form of Autism. Typically a high-functioning one, but nevertheless, it is an Autism Spectrum Disorder. His unusual quirks and personality typically set him apart from "the pack". For the most part, it has been something that has brought him ridicule and torture. This year, we transferred him to a new school so he's had a fresh start.
He had his school band concert on Tuesday (he actually plays bass in the Jazz Band even though he loves guitar and hates bass, she is in the school chorus). He was excited because my wife and I could meet her and also meet her mother at the concert, who had some concerns about who this boy was and what his family was like. Turns out....my wife and her mother already knew each other. Evidently, they had gone to high school together and remembered each other, even though we live quite a few town away from where they each grew up. So it was pretty cool. We met the girl, and she's just like my son at first glance; same height, same hair color, skin tone, same type of personality (it seems), they both have braces, etc.... So my son asks me today if he can go bowling with her and her mother on Sunday.
Shock on my part. And this is where I'm wondering how others view this. My son is only 13. I didn't expect this so soon. Sure, a lot of kids his age have "girlfriends" at school and whatnot, It's bound to happen, and I'm happy for him that at such a young age he's been able to form this type of friendship, but.....is this an appropriate thing for his age?
I keep tabs on my son. I look at his texts, his online communications, and we talk a lot about a lot of things, or at least I think we do. Is it okay to take him out on, what is in his mind, a "date" at his age? I know it won't be more than just a couple kids getting together and having some fun at a bowling alley with adult supervision, but...
I guess I'm an old fart. I didn't have my first "date" until I was about 16.
FWIW, they are a very nice family and the girl seems to be very nice. And at her age, for some reason, she really likes my son, at least as a friend.
Input?
I'm really impressed because my son has Asperger's Syndrome, and for those who are not familiar with it, it's a form of Autism. Typically a high-functioning one, but nevertheless, it is an Autism Spectrum Disorder. His unusual quirks and personality typically set him apart from "the pack". For the most part, it has been something that has brought him ridicule and torture. This year, we transferred him to a new school so he's had a fresh start.
He had his school band concert on Tuesday (he actually plays bass in the Jazz Band even though he loves guitar and hates bass, she is in the school chorus). He was excited because my wife and I could meet her and also meet her mother at the concert, who had some concerns about who this boy was and what his family was like. Turns out....my wife and her mother already knew each other. Evidently, they had gone to high school together and remembered each other, even though we live quite a few town away from where they each grew up. So it was pretty cool. We met the girl, and she's just like my son at first glance; same height, same hair color, skin tone, same type of personality (it seems), they both have braces, etc.... So my son asks me today if he can go bowling with her and her mother on Sunday.
Shock on my part. And this is where I'm wondering how others view this. My son is only 13. I didn't expect this so soon. Sure, a lot of kids his age have "girlfriends" at school and whatnot, It's bound to happen, and I'm happy for him that at such a young age he's been able to form this type of friendship, but.....is this an appropriate thing for his age?
I keep tabs on my son. I look at his texts, his online communications, and we talk a lot about a lot of things, or at least I think we do. Is it okay to take him out on, what is in his mind, a "date" at his age? I know it won't be more than just a couple kids getting together and having some fun at a bowling alley with adult supervision, but...
I guess I'm an old fart. I didn't have my first "date" until I was about 16.
FWIW, they are a very nice family and the girl seems to be very nice. And at her age, for some reason, she really likes my son, at least as a friend.
Input?
LOL
