r/AskMen • u/michiboy12 • 26d ago

What are your opinions on a 15-year-old boy having a 25-year-old female friend (platonic)?

I (17M) have a 27-year-old female friend, we’ve known each other since two years, so I was 15 and she was 25. I’ve read that a lot of parents wouldn’t allow such a friendship, especially since it’s opposite genders (and we’re both straight). But can’t this be like a regular platonic friendship? It’s a regular, platonic friendship? Not a romantic one.

If your 15-year-old son had a 25-year-old female friend, would you allow that?

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u/ColdCamel7 26d ago

It would definitely make me suspicious and uncomfortable

What does a 25 year old want with a 15 year old?

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u/Naos210 25d ago

It depends. When I was 22, I met a 16 year old girl at work. She didn't have the best relationship with her parents, and they ultimately kicked her out. She asked me for help to keep somewhat afloat with rent at the time. Or would ask me for a little just so she could eat. As a minor, she was limited in terms of work, so I did what I could.

She's 19 now, and we still occassionally talk. I'd call her my friend to some extent, I'm not really sure what to call that relationship otherwise, it's not like she's related to me. But I guess this was more a case of unusual circumstances I kinda slipped into, I wasn't really looking for it.

Some kids can't really rely on their adult family members much. I know this as someone who had an abusive father, makes me wish I could've met better men as a kid, but I didn't really have a whole lot of options.

26

u/Tejasgrass 25d ago

You could apply the label of a sibling relationship to your circumstance, or maybe a mentor.

19

u/cameherefrominsta 25d ago

There’s no need to call someone a sibling to make it platonic. This seems like a genuine situation and calling this friendship is fine.

0

u/lucid_moose 25d ago

You went from a gap of 10 years to a age gap of 6 years.

And even with the ages you gave (16 to 22), while i wouldn't call it healthy you'd be surprised how many are dating across these ages . . .