Has your child ever dated a family friend?

No experience or knowledge of anyone in this situation. I'll be interested in hearing how this plays out.

DD dated the son of family friends.  I knew it wouldn't last. They were young and had very little in common. The boy is rather immature for his age (but a really nice guy.). Sure enough, they broke up after a few months. We see the family at least weekly and I knew it would be tough if they hated each other.

I talked to DD about being the one to approach him, as she is the one who did the breaking up. It was pretty awkward at first, but the kids both did a good job. DD would text asking him if he was going to be at youth group, made sure she said hi to him, and generally tried to engage him. He was embarrassed at first, but the mom and I talked and just kept encouraging them to attend their usual events. It took a few months, but eventually it worked itself out.

It's been a little over a year now and they are better friends than ever. Very much like brother and sister. They go to different schools now, but still see each other weekly so so. They hang out together and text all the time. I'm positive nothing romantic is left, but they have handled themselves well for 15 year olds. And I hope DD has learned that it's ok to go back to being friends.

But sometimes it does work out. DH and I were friends long before we dated. Several years. When we started dating, I was worried that it would ruin the friendship. But it turns out that we aren't just husband and wife after all these years, but friends too. I think growing up together helped a lot.

I was that girl. Please don't do anything that will make her feel that she is supposed to have a relationship with the boy. It can really mess with her mind and cause further problems for her later in life. Let nature take it's course and stay OUT of it.

I was that girl too (only I was the older of us). My going to college pretty much broke us up - I grew up and matured, and he didn't. Of course, that was before cell phones and everyone having e-mail and the internet.

If we hadn't moved a couple of years ago, I think one DD might have ended up with my best friend's son. They are the same age and had always been close, and there seemed to be a budding middle-school romance before we moved. He's a great kid, but I'm glad I didn't have to deal with break-up drama.

Ah, ok, I get it
I guess what will happen will happen - or not! It might be hard to watch but I don't think there's much you can do about it even if you wanted to (not saying you do) so I wish you luck. I hope it works out for the best - whatever that is 

I don't have that exact experience just yet, but I have a group of 5 very close friends that all met when our kids were in kindergarten. I have the only boy that age of the group. We get together for a lot of family events. Early on, my friends with older kids decided we needed an understanding - the parents are friends because we like each other, that does not mean our kids will always like each other.

Here we are 7 years later and the girls of our group have been "flighty" with each other the past year or two as puberty is setting in. They rotate "besties" and sometimes get mad at each other and don't speak. It has not affected the relationships with the adults - we know these things happen. I always figured I was better off having the boy of the group since he isn't involved in the girls' drama.

I wonder what will happen to our group dynamic if my son ever dates one of the girls. Right now the idea is completely far off since my son is annoyed that the girls are starting to pull away from playing basketball and manhunt in favor of sitting in the corner and giggling. Oh, the joys. Our group has had some fantastic family fun the past 7 years. I hope we are still around attending each others' kids' weddings, even if that means 2 of us will be sharing the cost of the same wedding.