Don’t kids go on normal dates these days? I’ve heard they “hang out” a lot and all the young men’s leaders I know encourage the boys to ask the girls on proper dates, which seems to suggest they need encouragement. Yet lately I have observed kids on the strangest and most intimate dates ever: Clothes shopping and swimming.
I don’t get it. Why are teenage “couples” at the mall shopping together for clothes? I see this all the time. It’s a cultural development I’m not altogether happy with. Spending money, finding sizes, and trying clothes on should happen with your mother or sister, not your boyfriend. It’s not natural. And if my daughter ever says, “I don’t think I’m objectified enough by TV and movies so I think I’ll let my boyfriend come with me to the mall where I will try clothes on for him and literally have him dress me.” I will totally say, “Not on my watch, sister!” Even though, technically, she’s my daughter. What are people thinking? As if going out to dinner with a boy you like and insisting that you really want a salad isn’t bad enough.
Today we spent the day at the water park. There were lots of teenagers there. But not just in big, fun groups. There were a lot of teenage “couples” who were obviously on dates. What a weird date. As a general rule, I don’t think you should ever go on a date in a swimming suit. And you can’t really swim with a person or go down a slide with a person. I guess couples can hug in the Lazy River (which I saw a lot of) but it’s gross and tacky. Let’s be honest: Anything a teenage couple does together in swimming suits–whether it’s eating nachos or bobbing in the wave pool–is gross and tacky. You give him a slap in the face, ladies, if he suggests it. Funny how a wedding ring, 4 kids, and 50 pounds of fat transforms that teenage-lech into father of the year. Funny, but true.
I’d like to see more couples having some good wholesome fun–at McDonalds, perhaps, or even roller skating, playing cards, or watching TV in their clothes (not their swimming suits). Call me old-fashioned.
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Emily says: I have never, even as a teenager, been able to be in public in a swimsuit without having my arms crossed in front of me, trying to hide as much of myself as possible. So I would have been quite safe on a swimming date - but really, really uncomfortable. And no, my observation has been that kids never "go on normal dates these days." It's either the 23-kid hangout to watch a video or the all-day marathon prom date with a minimum price tag of $200. I haven't seen the swimsuit thing you're describing because, well, I don't hang out at swimming pools anymore now that I don't have young children to entertain in the summertime. Good thing, too, because I've had quite enough of keeping my arms crossed to last me a lifetime.
Lisa says: You ARE old-fashioned! I bet you think "teens," as I like to call them, should use correct punctuation in their emails. . . or do u? I can't imagine having gone swimming or trying on clothes as a normal date. That's gross--especially eating nachos in a swimming suit. Although if I did that, I would be a good 20 pounds lighter.