My daughter is dating a much older man. Should I be worried?

Julianne Bjork Yang, a counsellor at Alliance Counselling, shares how parents can navigate this situation.

- Julianne Bjork Yang

AGE-GAP RELATIONSHIPS ARE CHALLENGING

I hear your worry and understand if your protective instinct is kicking in. Age-gap relationships are challenging because they do involve power imbalances, based on differences in emotional maturity, relationship experience, financial power, and more. Your daughter is still figuring out her identity and what she truly needs in a relationship. Meanwhile, an older man would likely have already established his own patterns and expectations.

As your daughter navigates the adult world, of course you want her to be safe. When children become adults, though, the parental role shifts: It becomes less about telling children what to do, and more about mentoring and helping them to create an inner compass with which to navigate their own future.

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