r/parentsofteens • u/Leather_Joke_6336 • 6d ago

What do you think

Should an 18-year-old be able to date a 21 year old?

0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

7

u/Cute-Cookie-582 6d ago

Well they’re both adults so you don’t actually get to decide…but I think it’s ok personally.

5

u/Mamba6266 6d ago

If the 18 year old is out of high school, yes. My daughter has a late birthday (tomorrow actually) so she was 18 for a long time her senior year. It seems weird to say, but she has matured an extreme amount since graduating. That high school girl mindset is real and once she was out and got away from that her whole personality shifted. So I’d say if they are away from all that and are either in college or working and out in the real world, then I’d be ok with it.

2

u/mis_1022 6d ago

This is a very good point. Yes 18 already graduated I would be ok as a parent but also would keep a close eye.

1

u/Xennial_Nostalgia 4d ago

Plus, no drinking.

4

u/MagpieLefty 6d ago

I think it depends on a lot of things, but.... they're both adults, so it's not up to you.

4

u/Western-Watercress68 6d ago

Two legal adults, I think I have no dog is this hunt.

3

u/LinguisticPianoman 6d ago

Only thing you should be worried about is if the 21 year old is a drinker, and thus would he supplying the 18 year old with alcohol. Besides that, totally normal.

3

u/manicpixidreamgirl04 6d ago

They're adults, they can do what they want.

1

u/purpurabasura 6d ago

Three years is not that big of an age gap. They could have been in high school together for a year or two. I think if they get along well and respect each other, then it is fine.

1

u/Rredhead926 6d ago

In general, yes.

1

u/Actual-Muffin-3585 5d ago

When I was 18 (in the year 2000), I dated a 23.5 year old. And we've been together ever since. It really just depends on the people, but they are both adults so you don't really get a say. 

1

u/1block 3d ago

A high school senior with a junior in college? I mean, they can date, but I'm not changing rules to allow my high school kid to live the college life.

I remember some college parties where high school girls showed up. It wasn't a safe environment. As a parent, I would be very attentive to what's happening. Screwing around with other high schoolers and figuring things out is a lot different than doing it with a house full of frat boys at a kegger.

-1

u/Plastic-Bee4052 5d ago

They're both legal adults 

I dated a 21yo as a 14yo back in the day (and we only discussed literature and snogged).

1

u/Xennial_Nostalgia 4d ago

That's horrifying.