Dear Annie: My daughter wants to have a sleepover with her boyfriend

Dear Annie: My 16-year-old daughter is relentless in begging me to have a sleepover with her boyfriend. She insists they are not sexually active and that she simply wants to hang out with him, watch movies and sleep next to him. For some reason, nothing I say to explain why my answer is no seems to make any sense to her.

Annie, can you offer any suggestions to shut this down? I hate to say “Because I said so,” but I’m at a loss. — Exhausted Parent

Dear Exhausted: Tell your daughter she is more than welcome to invite her boyfriend over to hang out and watch movies, but that’s all. Having a sleepover with a boy at her age, even one sans sex, is not appropriate, and so long as she is living under your roof, she must abide by your rules.

At the end of the day, the exact reason — and there are many — doesn’t really matter. If you’re uncomfortable with it, the answer is no. She may not agree with you or be happy about it, but she has to respect that boundary. And remember, she will thank you later.

Read more Dear Annie and other advice columns.

“How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology — featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit Creators Publishing for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to [email protected].