What does a mom say when a 19-year-old guy asks her 12-year-old daughter for her number?

Dear AmoMama,

Recently I had a very embarrassing and awkward experience while out with my 12-year-old daughter. We went to a movie, and when we were in the lobby buying popcorn and sodas, there was a group of older boys nearby.

I noticed they were looking at my daughter and talking among themselves. My daughter is very pretty, very tall and physically very mature for her age and looks a lot older.

She is also very confident, so these boys must have thought she was their age or close to it. After a while, one of the boys came over and politely introduced himself and asked her for her contact.

I asked him how old he was and he told me he was 19. I told him to move on or I would call security, that my daughter is 12, and a child.

He was very embarrassed, and apologized and went away. I called the security an told them this boy had approached my daughter and that I thought he might be a pedophile.

My daughter got angry with me. She said she would never give her number to anyone she didn't know, and that I was being awful. She was ashamed of me. She made me take her home and has told me she will not go out with me again.

I think I may have overreacted because she is very angry, and said I don't trust her to be sensible, and was very unpleasant.

But what else could I have done? How was I supposed to defend my child from unwanted sexual advances from what is is essentially a grown man? What should I have done?

If you need help or advice, reach out to us, and thousands of women just like you who are struggling with the difficulties of life. You are not alone, we are here for you, and we listen; so write to us anonymously using this form.