16 year old marries her 40 year old track coach

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 7:10 pm

http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3305652&page=1

Her parents said they "had no choice" but to sign the consent forms.

Yep. No choice at all.

Peijen · Post by **Peijen** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 5:41 pm

We've tried everybody. We've been to the law. We've been to the school board," Betty said. "Our family has come and tried to talk to her. We've had people on the phone with her for hours — family, friends. We've been to our pastor asking for guidance. We've been to his pastor.

That's their problem, if they just take a hands off but a close eye on it she would probably grow out of it. But once it become forbidden and she can't have it, she just wanted it more.

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:23 pm

Maybe. But at the point where she wanted consent to get married I think that's where you say, "No way." At that point the parents have to say, "Look, we're your parents and we're not going to let you throw your life away."

I don't know what her home situation was like but whatever the case is, I don't think you can sign consent forms to let your 16 year old daughter marry a 40 year old with no job. I agree that you can probably just wait it out; don't forbid her to see him and I think by the time 2 years passes and she can legally marry him she'd get bored with him anyway.

George · Post by **George** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:13 am

Sounds like the parents are really overreacting though. Yeah the marriage is creepy, is almost certainly going to fail, and probably could have been averted. However, it didn't say that she dropped out, quit track, or got pregnant, so she could presumably still fulfill her parents' dreams. Well, the prom one might be awkward.