I want your opinions, please :)

[Medusa]

And then she said she didn't ever think there would ever be anyone that she woulld totally approve of for me

Mom may have said this to you rather tongue in cheek but there's probably still a grain of truth in it. Of course, take Mom's counsel to heart because she wants what's best for her daughter. As for the boy and all future dating prospects, you can judge them less on what they say and more on what they do.

[Genny]

Hey everyone, thank you for your thought. I appreciate you taking the time to sit down and write me about this. I know it's not very important but it is in my life right now and it's good to have people understand me.

Joyce, about your question, I have irlfriends that I've tlaked to about this, but they are more like this 'ask that guy out, your mom shouldn't be acting that way' so to them they are just like 'do what you want, Genny' so that's why I came here about all this.

My mom has a lot of friends she goes places with sometimes, most of them are friends from high school when she was younger. She also talks with my niece's grandma a lot. We are also around each other a lot and do things together, but I think it's time I get a job, maybe a boyfriend? I don't want to rush into things but I just think I need to get out--my mom says that she just doesn't want me to make any mistakes or regret doing things, but to me I think a person needs to make mistakes because that way they can learn from them....I know my mom just wants what's best for me, she has good intentions, she's like my best friend...I'm not saying I want to leave and never come back I just need her to understand I'm growing up and I'm not a little 12 y/o anymore. I just don't know how to explain that to her..

[Karen]

I'm not saying I want to leave and never come back I just need her to understand I'm growing up and I'm not a little 12 y/o anymore. I just don't know how to explain that to her..

I am sure she knows that, in her heart, but may just be trying to postpone the inevitable. Sure, get to know that guy, a one-year age difference doesn't make nearly as much difference as poeple think. Some guys are mature at 16, some not until 36 - if ever ... but you just want to maybe date him, not marry him tomorrow. Your mom is just being a mom. She will live.

[Gracefulsarah]

I'm wondering if your Mom also knows a good thing when she has it. It's possible that somwhere down deep, she knows that if you get a life (ie: job, car, boyfriend, etc...) she won't have you home anymore. In essence, she will have lost her helper. I don't want to say she's manipulating you, but be sure not to rule that out as it does happen all the time to people out there. I hope this isn't too negative, but someone had to say it. On the other hand, Karen, Rachel, and the others could be spot on. Your Mom doesn't want you to make the same mistakes she might have made. But she needs to realize that she can't protect her little girl forever.

[Argranade]

I don't see anything wrong with going out with a guy younger than you.

I like this guy younger than me, he's taller and looks my age also.

Love has no boundaries... well to me anyway lol.

[joycenalex]

--my mom says that she just doesn't want me to make any mistakes or regret doing things, but to me I think a person needs to make mistakes because that way they can learn from them....I know my mom just wants what's best for me, she has good intentions, she's like my best friend...I'm not saying I want to leave and never come back I just need her to understand I'm growing up and I'm not a little 12 y/o anymore. I just don't know how to explain that to her..

you are gonna make mistakes. you will bounce checks, spend too much, stay up waaaayyyyy too late, wear cute shoes that pinch alot, miss college classes, you will fall in love/lust/like with the wrong people, drink bad coffee and eat runny eggs. you will also learn to keep enough money in the bank, take naps, wear cute non pinching shoes, go to class , stay away from the wrong people, wash the coffee pot and cook eggs properly to your taste. you will regret things, some will be major regrets, some will be minor regrets. it's life, you will make mistakes. she also taught you good ethics, values and ways to learn. printing these posts out might be a way to start the conversation with her, that it's time for you to start making your own way and mistakes. kindest regards to her and to you, joyce

[Genny]

You are all right and all make perfect sense and I appreciate all of you taking the time to write me about this--I kinda had a small talk w/ my mother tonight about everything--I didn't talk to her about the certain 'guy' that I like; I just talked to her and told her how I felt a little and she told me that she understood that I needed to get out and do my own things and get my own life--and that she would help me all she could if I ever needed her for anything, and you all know I'm gonna need my mom all through out my life, cause don't we all? so I hope she might finally see everything the way I am seeing things-- I know she's still gonna be 'overly protective' because that's just my 'mom.' but like she said earlier that she use to do about my older brother--everytime he would leave to go somewhere like work or out w/ friends etc that all she could do was say a prayer that he'll come home safe and that's what I want her to do for me.....so thanks for listening to me guys and still feel free to tell me anything you think I might should know....talk to ya'll later!