To think 26 year old dating 19 year old is weird?

That's not what I said. I know paths can cross at that age but if a 25 year old at our rugby club or cricket club or at my son's work started dating him while he's 18 I'd think there's something off with it. When my stepdaughter was the same age I'd also have thought the same. The initial question of "is a 26 year old dating a 19 year old weird?" had a gut reaction of yes, that feels gross and odd to me. When I was 19, if my friends of the same age had a 26 year old boyfriend I'd have been suspicious of him and wonder why he didn't go for someone his own age. In my 40s it's completely different as that gap gets smaller in terms of life experience, maturity, intelligence, all sorts but when one is a teenager it does feel weird to me yes.

FFS is that all you had to come up with in reply?

I had this exact gap with my husband. Met when I was 19, first year at uni. He worked in a student bar and was 26.
I’m now 43 and he’s 50. We have together ever since, been married for 19 of those years and have 3 children together. I was probably very mature at 19 as I think lots of women are in comparison to men of the same age. I can’t imagine a relationship with a 19 year old guy I met at the same time would have been as ‘successful’; or indeed if I had met my now husband when he were 19 (imagining we were the same age for a moment) that he would have been ready for the same long term commitment that we embarked on. In short I think it depends on the people, personalities and circumstances; you can’t judge on the numbers alone.

If that's the fellow attempting the moustache - someone should tell the poor lad it doesn't make him look older...

Not weird in the slightest!

I don’t understand the relevance. Dd briefly went out with a 19 yo, who does boxing. Visually he could easily pass for 25. That doesn’t make him 25, nor does that make your ds 17.

My daughter has this age gap with her boyfriend (he's older). I don't even think about it - they're very happy.

Do you think it would be disgusting if they were 20 and 27? Is it because one is a teen that you see it this way, or simple the 7 year age gap.

Not at all weird. It's 7 years. Some couples have 20 years between them. Why do you want to keep the sexes anonymous? Is it relevant if they're same sex?

I don't think my parents knew but there was a big age gap between them so they couldn't really have said anything.

I don't think it's weird because I had a fling with a 26 year old when I was 19 and he was particularly gorgeous, so...

However he did dump me for a 23 year old because I was too young!

We were all students so at the same life stage.

I also had a fling with a 28 year old when I was 22 and my now DH is similarly older than me!

But mores have changed and I understand from MN (and my son) that people tend to stay within 2 years these days, at least as youngsters.

Hmm at 19 I had my own place a full time job etc. can't see what my love life would have to do with my parents. My partner was 11 months older and he turned out to be a right idiot. Might've been better off with someone more grown up

My DS has very boyish looks at nearly 23. He could pass for 17 so I'm not sure on the relevance

I dated a 26 yo when I was 19. (Not the man I eventually married) I mentioned it to dd at 19 and she was horrified and couldn't understand what my parents were thinking!

My almost 18 yo dd has told me Belle Hassan from love island last year is dating a 19yo. And she’s plastering him all over the internet apparently, comparing him to the partner she won a runner place with from the show. He’s so much better bla bla bla. She showed me a picture of him. He very clearly still has quite boyish looks. I’m sorry, but how can you have a meaningful relationship with such an age gap?

It’s icky

Seems fine to me - both adults capable giving consent - why the problem 🤷🏻‍♀️

It depends on the individuals. I know 19 year olds who have been working for 3 years and have mid 20s work colleagues. I don't think it would be strange if dating occured.

Yes exactly, a huge generalisation! Also rls are pressured and judged on their behaviour far more than boys - if boys had the same pressure and expectations, they too would be more mature at 19.

Seems normal to me.
I've been thinking about my friendship and acquaintance groups, especially with both sons friend's and their girlfriends and it's within normal age ranges.

It’s definitely not “perfectly normal” and what prompted me to make this thread was a TikTok and the comments saying anything more than a 3 year age gap is predator territory* what utter bullshit!

Weary? Did you mean wary?

I was 20 when I met my 25 yr old partner 46 yrs ago. 1of my children is married to someone 8 yrs older - they’re a great match.

The only thing weird is that you think it’s weird.

Ironically, the phrase "grow up" comes to mind.

Are you the poster who wants (current age/2)+7 enshrined in law?

Well 19 year olds are typically not long out of education or still in it, living at home and don't have a fully developed brain. 26 year olds are generally in work, possibly living aline or at home with more autonomy and have a fully developed brain.

I'm assuming the 26 yo is your sibling given how much you dislike the 19 year old? Do you generally think they exhibit predatory behavior?
You know it's perfectly possible to share a taste in movies, books, the world, with someone who's more than 3 years different in age to you? DH met a decade alter at the same ages, I imagine 19 year old me and 26 year old him still would have had stuff in common. He was probably less "world-wise" at that age due to childhoods etc.

Sounds like the 26 to will lose interest soon anyway