Reply #16: 18 to 23 is not such a bad ratio

[Saffy]

I totally sympathize with your uneasyness- as I have a 16 y/o who dated a 19 y/o (now over)- and felt similarly.

The whole age quandry has me in a tizzy due in part to my ex-husband currently dating someone your son's age (ugh), but it has also given me a slightly different set of parameters to consider. It's so hard to separate the emotional issues from the practical until it happens to you personally, dontcha think?.

But, all things considered, this age difference suggests that your son is relatively mature for his age (or perhaps she's immature for hers- but let's consider the positive first). The only thing that would seriously concern me is that she's of drinking age, and he's not. But, if he could just as easily find a male friend of legal drinking age to pal around with if that was his intention, ya know?

The fact that you met her and approve of her (except for the age diff) is a good sign. It's also a good sign that he brought her home to meet you sooner rather than later.