In this story, ML is a good person, but as someone in my 30s, I wouldn’t date a 23-year-old. They’re both adults, but there’s still a big difference in maturity and life experience. If you’re going to date someone a decade older, I’d suggest waiting until you’re around 30. When your prefrontal cortex (part of the brain responsible for impulse control, decision-making and weighing long-term consequences) has matured and you’ve had more time to grow and understand yourself.
You should also work through any unresolved issues with your parents. Better with the help of therapy, so you can recognize whether you’re looking for a partner or trying to fill a maternal or paternal role. You want an equal, not a replacement parent.
If you have a younger sibling or cousin in their early 20s, you probably know how big the gap in life experience can feel. Age gaps might look cute in fiction, but real-life relationships are more complicated.
This might sound prudish to you, but you'll understand where I’m coming from when you’re my age.
In this story, ML is a good person, but as someone in my 30s, I wouldn’t date a 23-year-old. They’re both adults, but there’s still a big difference in maturity and life experience. If you’re going to date someone a decade older, I’d suggest waiting until you’re around 30. When your prefrontal cortex (part of the brain responsible for impulse control, decision-making and weighing long-term consequences) has matured and you’ve had more time to grow and understand yourself.
You should also work through any unresolved issues with your parents. Better with the help of therapy, so you can recognize whether you’re looking for a partner or trying to fill a maternal or paternal role. You want an equal, not a replacement parent.
If you have a younger sibling or cousin in their early 20s, you probably know how big the gap in life experience can feel. Age gaps might look cute in fiction, but real-life relationships are more complicated.
This might sound prudish to you, but you'll understand where I’m coming from when you’re my age.