A 26 year old man dating a 16 year old girl?

I'm in the same situation and it's frustrating. It feels so right <3 but it's all kinds of wrong. She's too young with no experience, that explains it all. What kind of man would I be if I took this 16 YEAR OLD GIRL on dates!?!? She's not old enough to buy spirits, let alone cocktails! While I'm off to work living in the real world with real problems, she's off to HIGH SCHOOL hoping to get out of P.E. Class. No matter how much we like each other or how well we go together, she needs time to grow as a person. In her state she's too naive and the things she wants, whether it be material or feels, are always changing. All I can do as a man is be noble and be there for her. It's hard though... I catch myself being at war with my heart and it makes me act foolish =T. I need to move on and get over it. The though of us together is just silly. I say it's wrong, wait until she turns 21 and if you still find that kindle burning, then go for it. Good luck ;D

My understanding of the You. S. Law was consent for a 16 year old from the parents pertained only to marriage; and even then the couple had to wait until the minor was 18 before legally consummating the marriage. The older person could still be arrested, regardless of being married, if for some reason the couple was encounter having sex by the police.

People change once they go out into the world and live their own lives apart from relatives and school. Around 23-25 is when most people turn into the person they are going to be for the rest of their life. Even if you do spend time with this guy, your priorities may change later in life and you could decide he isn't right for you.

If you really get along with each other, there isn't harm in doing activities and such. The best idea may be to just stay good friends until you are older; not officially date or do anything romantic. Use the two years to think about what you want to do with your life. Where do you want to go to college, what career do you have in mind, are there any places you'd like to travel to and see. After two years of being his good friend and thinking about your life goals, if you still feel the same way, go for it!

Depends on their personality if the 16years old girl is mature enough and the 26years old guy is like a big kid then they probably click perfectly but from a view outside(people who doesn't know them well) will think its a bit weird, It's surely better if the guy wait for the girl turn 18, so they are both in the adult age group rather a teenager and adult. After all age is just a number, if they able to have a good relationship and love each other then nothing really matter.

He should wait until she turn 18

It doesn't matter if the parents consent to this action. The United States law is the law for a reason. Think of it this way, is it okay for a 22 year old to date a 12 year old. Ten year difference and yes what if the parents consented in this case also. I'm sure most would agree that a 22 year old has NO RIGHT to date a 12 year old. Questions always arise in cases like yourself. Why is the man so interested in dating someone in their mid-teens? How often has he fantasized of dating a woman so young? I know it sounds like he is a child-molester but if I were you I would think about stuff like that before the relationship gets serious. Do some research and you will find that most child-molesters start with the people that are closest to the families such as relatives and very close friends of the family.

Now I'm not saying that this man is a child-molester. I'm just saying to at least consider it before the relationship goes too far such as marriage.

If he is interested in young women then I would begin to also question what happens ten years from now and the couple is still together. Will the guy still be interested in her OR will he STILL be interested in someone YOUNGER?

usually I would think this wrong, but I'm now in the same situation myself...
met my current boyfriend around 2 years ago at new years and since then we have had feelings for each other but never told anyone due to the 10 years age gap (16 and 26) but luckily due to a very drunken night out we ended up telling each other. I would consider myself pretty mature for my age group and him not so mature so we get on really well and the past 5 months have been great. :) its fine as long as you don't forget your own age group and if you get on with eachothers friends, I've always grown up with people a fair bit older than me so I had no problem and honestly, he's the best thing that's ever happened to me! :) x

i think its all right...b/c he is known by the family...i'm 16 and most of the guys in high school don't know how to be what we look for in a guy. And if he treats her with respect and they have feelings for one another its okay.

I consider myself to be open minded, but I'm sorry this is weird case scenario. Its not just the age difference its the difference in maturity and life experience between the ages

My issue here is that this girl is still in high school. High school age people need to be in relationships/seeing other people in their age group. If she is spending all this time with this older man, where does that leave her if things go south? She may be incredibly mature, but I was very self aware at 16 as well, and the changes I have undergone from age 16 to age 19 (where I am now) are astounding to both me and my family. I feel that she needs the time to develop on her own without the overpowering influence of an older boyfriend. And what if she wants to go to college? She'll be getting out at 21, ready to start her life, while he is 31, wanting to be married?

Long story short, at least wait until she gets out of high school/turns 18. Give her some space to develop into a woman on her own, because I think having a boyfriend so much older at this stage isn't so great an idea. When she's 19-20ish, sure. But not until she's gotten that chance.

Uh well hell I was close to dating ten years apart so yes wrong maybe but I'd do it.

It sounds a lot worse then it actually is. It depends on the people, really. He may be 26 years old, but act younger. Or she may be only '16 years old' but act way more mature for her age. If they mesh well together then both can contribute to the relationship, not just him because he's older.

I'm not sure if it makes a difference that the parents consent of this relationship, either way you should keep it on the DL until you turn 18 ;)

On your last part of people being 10 years apart. Yes I definitely know there are couples of big age difference. Like Hugh Hefner and Holly for main example. But then again, they are both older then 21. The years before that age you're still growing up and changing, after that, your lives are around the same level, you're officially 'grown up', holding down a place of your own, jobs, life, etc. You get what I'm saying? That's the only worry that would arise is that he is what he is, 26. He's doing all that, while you, 16 years young, are still growing up

totally wrong honey a guy who can't get a girl his own age is a looser
plus the "girl" has so much more to experience before reaching age 26. i'm 22 and just remembering when i was 16 to now lots of things have happened and changed, imagine how much more 'till i'm 26. no no that's not ok.

Yes yes there are couples that are ten years apart or maybe even more but you need to know that those couples are like ages 21 and older and it makes it ok but since she's a minor and he's not, it really doesn't make it ok because the 16 year has different perspective of life then the 26 year and it kind of makes it harder, the 16 year old doesn't know anything about being an adult or having a job and a lot of stuff, I'm not trying to put her down but I'm just saying that the 26 year old man has a lot more experience and I don't just mean in relationships I mean like life experiences and this can ruin the relationship even when they can hit it off great but still there's a lot more work that needs to be put in a relationship like this because of the age difference. Just take that in mind. Sorry I'm not saying it can't work but there's more work since they both have different lives, which can make things a bit harder. Its sort of not ok because many people will think he's just trying to get in her pants, and it might hurt his reputation because maybe his family/friends might get the wrong idea of him because he's dating a "16" year old, hmmm?

Gross and weird.