22 y/o female dating 18 y/o male?

[Semicharmedkindalife]

Just that.
What are your thoughts on this?

I was 30 and DF was 21.. met at uni! We now have just bought our own home and have been together two years, fortunately he's quite mature for his age and I'm quite immature for my age so it works well

I married the one who was younger than me and we met around the same age. That was a lot of years ago.

Nope. It’s a there’s a mich bigger difference between 18 and 22 than there is between 22 and 26

No - it really isn't, it's still 4 years between two consenting adults. Some of you must have 18 year olds who still have their food cut up for them.

Mine was at uni for nearly a year by the time they hit 18, living independently.

OP, unless the 18 year old has learning difficulties/SN no, it isn't a problem at all. People who think it is icky are creepy themselves, I can't see what they are getting at. I wonder if you would be getting the same reaction if we were talking about a 22 year old male and 18 year old female???

22 divide by 2 add 7 is 18 = no problem

BertrandRussell Sat 14-Apr-18 11:27:19
"I wonder if the people not seeing a problem have 18 year old children......"

I have one 20yo and one who is 18 next month. I was 19 when I met their dad. Who was 23. I never felt there was an age gap between us. I went to university at 18, lived alone (not supported in halls), travelled abroad on my own, those of my friends who did not go to uni were at work and most of them (those were the days!) also living grown-up lives on their own or with partners.

Fair enough, cory, our experience differs. Most 18 year olds I know, even those at University, are not leading independent lives- they are still dependent financially and to a greater or lesser degree, emotionally, on their family of origin. None are living independent lives with partners. Most are still at school.

And while obviously I would have no right to say or do anything if mine was going out with somebody 4 years older and at a completely different stage of life, I would certainly be wary, and keeping an eye on the situation. Which, of course, would almost certainly be fine.

Bertrand, how exactly would you keep a wary eye on a situation involving an adult child who lived at the other end of the country?

By the time I had left and gone to university, what my parents knew about me was what I chose to tell them.

If my 18 year old was one of these hordes that are working, living independently with partners and mortgages and never returning to their family home then no, there isnmt much a parent can do. For the backward, immature 18 year olds I know who either live with their parents because they are still at school or spend long vacations from college or university there, then there is plenty of opportunity to offer advice and support. And surprisingly enough, some parents still offer advice and support to their adult children who are not living at home......

For the backward, immature 18 year olds I know who either live with their parents because they are still at school or spend long vacations from college or university there, then there is plenty of opportunity to offer advice and support.

That's nice, Bert. "Backward". Lovely.

"That's nice, Bert. "Backward". Lovely."

Irony, limon, irony. And a callback.

Bertrand, I never said families can't offer loving support. My parents still do. When I ask for it. They offer advice when I ask for it. I still visit them too. But I visit them as an adult, ask for support when I need it, take their advice if I think it is good, and am prepared to equally offer advice and support to them, and that situation hasn't substantially changed since I was 18. Yes to engaging lovingly with my parents, yes to spending time with them because I love them, yes to mutual advice and support- but also yes to making my own decisions.

When I was 18-20, I spent most of my holidays working abroad to up my qualifications. Work that I found myself and decided on myself and did not expect my parents to help me with. Though I did send them loving postcards- cherishing your independence doesn't necessarily mean lack of family affection.

When I was 17 I dated a 21yo. I was at school, living at home and was way more mature than him. I wouldn't bat an eyelid at an 18yo dating a 22yo.

You are both so lovely and young! Enjoy it!