Last year one of the basketball mothers sidled up to me and said they were trying that teen dating thing for the first time. Her oldest two daughters had started dating a couple of boys from the homeschool community. Her younger daughter had been a wild child, and she had hooked up with something of a player. I was worried. I saw them tonight, still together, and the two mothers were sitting together. Who knows? This might end in marriage.

Another family I talked with had a daughter who wanted to date so desperately that they worked out a system. The boy had to come to their house and they could only see each other in the presence of the family. They dated for a few months, and got married.

A third family didn’t do dating. Their son graduated from high school and then asked a fellow graduate out. They dated for a few months.

We don’t believe in dating. It has become sport, completely devoid of its original purpose–to get to know someone and see if they would make a good mate.

It’s hard on teens in this culture to accept that view. We have been working hard to instill it in our children. We like the idea of getting to know and watch a potential suitor, so when our daughter was asked to the prom, we invited the boy over.

He came on Superbowl Sunday, along with some of our friends. No pressure, right?

He came right in and gave me a hug, and joined the grown-ups watching the game for a little while. He even had the gumption to root for the team that my husband and I opposed.

Then he went in the kitchen and kept our daughter company while she made these amazingly hot appetizers and chocolate chip cookies.

Eventually all the teenagers (including our son’s friends) ended up watching the end of the game with all the adults. It was a nice picture.

After the game, my husband and I talked to the boy to find out what this boy had on his mind. He looked my husband directly in the eye while he talked about his plans for the future. He talked about the organizations he has started, awards he has won. He sounds like a young man of purpose.

We invited him to come again soon.

What are your thoughts about teen dating?