To think this friendship age gap is strange?

[bluejeanswhiteshirt]

My 27 year old ex is good friends with an 18 year old. He lives with him, goes out with drinks for him etc. This friend is bisexual and I'm beginning to wonder whether my ex is too but that's besides the point. AIBU to find it weird that he's friends with such a young boy/man?

[ScrambledEggAndToast]

I'm 32 and one of my really good friends is 68. We chat all the time. I think the issue becomes less of a problem once you are a grownup.

[Gem124]

I'm 29 and one of my closest friends is 49, totally different lives but we just click.

[redshoeblueshoe]

I've just remembered your X was being a knob, who wanted his alcoholic mum to see your DC. I thought then he sounded immature. Sounds like he is reverting to his teens. I hope his M didn't see your DC.

I think you've guessed IRL lots of people have friends of all ages its also something I love about MN - you can't tell how old people are.

[AlwaysDancing1234]

If he is being childish it's his issue not the friends age that's the problem. My DSis used to have a very childish friend who acted like a teenager and she was well into her 30's! It's the people involved that are your problem here.

[RachelRagged]

I was friends with a 30 year old Man when I was 17 . Looking back on it all as an older adult I think he had LD's *talking early 80s here so when he was born likely it was lumped under Backwards (the words at the time, not mine). Nothing untoward ever ever occurred.
Also, when I was about 12 my best friend was around 9 (so not a huge gap) , though I was closer to her sisters age I got along more with the 9 year old .

Honestly I would not fret OP .

[Nabootique]

I have friends aged between 18 and 60 odd, and I'm somewhere near the middle. 9 years is nothing, really.

[GlitzAndGigglesx]

I'm 22 and all my friends ages vary between 25-50. Some are from work but we get pissed socialise outside of work and speak often. I guess it's just who you click with

[bluejeanswhiteshirt]

wheresthelight I'm 25 and not jealous in the slightest. My only concern is what kind of role model he'll be to dd when he's going out and getting wasted with teenagers every week and squatting in an 18 year old's box room after leaving us 3 months ago. There's a million reasons why I'm not happy with his behaviour, this is just a small example.

[bluejeanswhiteshirt]

redshoe she hasn't seen dd yet. Ex asked her and she said she would have to think about it and then called me to say she wanted to take dd out for the day. Not a chance!

[redshoeblueshoe]

Good for you blue - bloody hell - she'd have to think about it I don't think she'll get her act together enough - but that is good news

[chrome100]

I'm 34. This year I am going on holiday with my friends, who range in age from 23 to 47. We all get on very well and the age difference doesn't matter.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

My dad is 51 and his closest male friend is 28. I don't think it's weird or that they're having a relationship on the quiet. They just share common interests.

Yabu.

[nowttodowithme]

I'm 46 and having lunch with a very good friend tomorrow, she's 26. Don't see the problem really!

[allyouneedisloveandginandtonic]

I agree - it's completely normal for age not to be an issue. Surely it's the person you are friends with and not how many birthday cakes they have had compared to you.

Incidentally though why do (some) people become squeamish when thinking about age gap partnerships when age gap friendships are pretty normal?