Would you judge a 26 year old (mum of 2) who casually sleeps with someone who is 18?

It’s not a relationship. Do you really not understand this?

@PinkieToeZ Yeah I agree you’re getting a hard time for the wrong reasons. I’m relieved to hear that you think it is icky!

As a Mom, if it was my son I would be pretty worried about him.

When their kids hit 18, maybe some of those telling you it’s fine will see it differently!

@altmember I can only assume this is some kind of sick joke.

What is this age related power that you speak of? Sounds like some kind of voodoo.

She may not have an intellectual or emotional interest in him but that doesn't mean that he doesn't or won't have an intellectual or emotional interest in her. Particularly given he is very likely to be much more inexperienced in terms of relationships.

Ew, gross, yes I would.

I don’t think the OP had an intellectual or emotional interest in him! That is not what this is about.

But certainly not 18 year old boys.
An 18 year old is an adult, not a boy.
Usually on mumsnet if an adult is referred to as a ' girl' or less often ' a boy' people tend to lose their minds and be outraged as you can't be a boy or girl and an adult!! People get really offended by that.
So at 18 is he an adult or a boy?
Personally, I think if he is 18 and he can fo all the legal stuff he must be an adult. Sure 18 year olds still have some maturing to until the end adolescence at around 25, but 18 is still an adult.
funinthesun19
Only just an adult.

Absolutely! However an 18 year old would not be told he is only just an adult if he went to a pub or went to vote.

Although I don’t have a stong opinion about this scenario and doesn't make any difference to me as my lads are mid 20s I would rather my lad at 18,have a casual, easy thing with someone few years older than be on the front line at war, which they can be ' when they are only just an adult' at 18.

As a 28 year old mum of 5! I think it's disgusting,in my eyes he's a child!

Neither of those things can be described as "casual".

Gross, you have 2 young children yourself and lusting after a barely adult. Do better.

There is. If he started developing “feelings” you’d bin him. If you got pregnant despite rigorous contraception you’d have a termination. These things are completely controllable.

Having worked with 18 year olds, they may legally be adults but emotionally and intellectually the vast majority are not. On that basis I would question the judgement of a 26 year old sleeping with a teenager, whether they were a parent or not.

For lots of reasons not everyone wants a relationship. But those people still have needs.

I'd think nothing of it.

Would feel a bit different if it was the bloke who was older but still not an automatic wrong un, it's a hook up not a relationship

There is never a guarantee that sex will be "casual". You can't control his feelings. You can't always control whether you get pregnant or not.

I think l love you and your outlook! You go girl! Have fun, take care. If he likes you and you like him, why not! ❤️

In all fairness you asked mumsnet AIBU, people say you’re unreasonable and you’re getting funny about it.

It’s up to you what you do with your body, as a mum to young children I would only focus on finding someone I like enough for an actual relationship rather than casual. But that’s up to you.

I do wonder what a 26 year old woman would see in a teenager but that’s your call, it’s consensual but a bit too icky for me.

Yeah again, you have missed the point - I think people can like each other (including want to have sex) and be of different ages? And I don’t think that you can say well you can be friends but you must only like each other in this way not that way because I disagree with it?! And you’ve literally stated my point - yes rich older men (and women, looking at Sam Taylor Johnson) who are in a position of having something to offer groom people - yes they do! I agree. They’re predatory and no doubt have a slew of other shitty behaviour that goes with it. But that doesn’t make me believe that if Marissa the 22 year old who is at uni and working in the local fish and chip shop in her spare time falls in love with Mark the fish monger who happens to be 40, that she is too stupid and blown away by his deep connections the Grimsby docks that she can’t be clear and conscious of her feelings towards him!

and you didn’t not address the fact that you have to, surely, trust people over the age of 18(?) to be adults and choose who they sleep with unless you don’t believe they should be doing other adult stuff like raising kids or being in positions of power themselves?! How can you listen to a doctor who is 27 and take them seriously but imagine they’re too stupid to choose who to have sex with?!

She might. But lots of women don't. Far too many children are born into situations like this. ONS or FWB situations that went tits up. Guess who suffers as the parents go off and get into other ONS/FWB or long term relationships?

Or she might have a termination. I know where my money is.