What would you think of your son 18 was dating a 21 year old woman ?

[Lastdaysofsummer26]

Happening to a friend of mine son and she’s not feeling too comfortable about it, the 21 year old was previously in. Three yearlong relationship with someone a year or two older then her

Having said that, there’s nearly 4 years between me and dh, but I was 22 and he was nearly 26. He was working and I just finished uni, I lived at home and he didn’t (convenient). I do think the older you are, the less of a gap there is. I mean, friendship wise, DS’s best friend on his uni course was 10 years older than him - 19 to 29! His gf is 21 though, not sure he’d be dating a 32 year old 😂

They’re both adults, it wouldn’t bother me. I admit I’d be concerned if she was a lot older and had kids near his age, but three years is nothing. Are you wanting him to only date another 18 year old? Is 19 ok? 20?

Nothing really. It’s only 3 years age gap,
and it will probably naturally fizzle out anyway but if not by the time they are 25/28 it will feel like they’re a similar age.
I’d be more worried about him being treated right

Leonardo dicaprio at 18 all I see is a child which is what i see when I look at the majority of 18 year olds I certainly don't fancy them but thats me you may like that sort of thing

Well, for a start an 18 year old is an adult and two years over the age of consent (which is 16) whereas a 15 year old is neither an adult or deemed old enough to consent to sex.

He was a very young looking 18 year old
My son is 19 with a full beard and hairy chest he lokks about 30
We can acknowledge that not all 18 year olds are very young looking without assuming that other posters must fancy them.

This isn’t just to do with looks and sex though. It’s very much about mental and emotional maturity. Courtney Stodden at 16 looked very much like an adult. That doesn’t mean she should have been allowed to get married.

Don't find Littler attractive in the slightest but you can not deny that he looks far older than his age. Haven't been attracted to an 18 year old since I was a teenager myself. Either way, age of consent is 16, 18 is a full legal adult. Your opinion doesn't matter.

The young man isn't even OPs son apparently, her level of interest in his sex life is far more of a concern than him dating a 21 year olf imo.

I had the same age gap but as the younger party - he was the virgin though!

I met DH when he was 17 and I was 24. We were 20 and 27 when we married, which was 55 years ago.

I dated an 18 year old (nearly 19) when I was 21. It was fine. We were both students. Might have been odd if he were still at school

Ffs my daughter who is 24, was on a training course, met and shagged an 18 year old 🙄🙄 they are adults and can do what they want

My son is 25 and he’s been with his 28 year old girlfriend since he was 20. I don’t see what the issue is.

Big difference between 18 and 20 though.

18 and 21 is much of a muchness. It wouldn’t bother me. I work with a lot of that age range, they’re incredibly similar, especially when they’re all working.

@Pixiedust49 "Interested in these responses as DD is 18 and currently dating a 21 year old and I feel a little unsure too, can’t really articulate why."

This is a relatively modern thing. In previous generations (including mine, so not ancient history) most young women would go out with a guy around 3 or 4 years older than them. It was the accepted and expected norm. Very few girls of 18 would want to go out with someone of the same age. My first boyfriend was 21 to my 18 and most of my friends hovered around that sort of gap. And my mum married at 20 when my dad was 24 in line with her peer group.

My DS is nearly 18 and absolutely clueless with relationships (and life in general). If a 21 yr old was interested in him I’d think she had completely lost her mind!

At the teen stage a couple of years in age gap is significant, for me personally once I hit my early 20’s, being with a teen just seemed odd but its legal, both adults so not much you can do.

Thinking back I dated a 20 year old when I was 17. My dad was ever so strict and he was ok with it, was 1988 though.

I dated a 23 year old when I was 20, I was a student and he was graduated and in his first job. It was in the 00s and nobody batted an eye.
We ultimately split up but it wasn’t because of issues to do with the age gap

Your “friend” needs to leave them be.

Is it normal for people to know when their children lose their virginity now? Horrifying.

So no one is really answering the question, which is
do you think 18 year old girls mature faster than boys or is this just what’s expected of girls to be more mature ?

Your question was "What would you think of your son 18 was dating a 21 year old woman ?"

You got plenty of answers.

Somehow I'd doubt that he'll be complaining about the experience. Especially as he'll get a lift home afterwards instead of having to ride his big boy bike.