Why is the idea of teenagers going steady often shunned by the older generation? In their time going steady was the next step to engagement, but in our generation, going steady or steadily is a form of security - a sure date.

Parents complain that teenagers get too serious when they date only one person. They're afraid that their child won't meet enough other people to find out what kind of a personality suits him best. But today most couples stay together from only two to four months, therefore this fear has no backing.

A boy often has money problems, and fathers are often unwilling to help them in these matters. Going steady gives a boy the advantage of not having to spend too much money on every date.

The steady couple gets to know each other better as they discover what each person likes and what to talk about. Usually a person feels more natural after dating a certain other person a few times.

Girls are in favor of going steady because they have a sure date for the weekend and don't have to worry about "wangling" a boy into asking her out.

Another thing is that very few kids go out with a  different person every weekend. Most of them are going steady or steadily!

Then there are those "heart‑breaking" break‑ups, but it seems that in a few days things are "all right," and in a few weeks the girl or boy is going with someone else.

Of course there are exceptions on both sides of this issue, but for the most part, going steady or steadily is nothing for parents to worry about. It's simply something everybody does in high school.