I'm 15, She's 21 .... Chance of Relationship?

Dear Dee:
I am a guy who helps his parents out a lot. But when my mom started working on the weekends, she got a babysitter to help me take care of my other three siblings. My dad works weekends, too.

Now I think the babysitter is really good looking. We have a good bit in common and she's actually flirted with me a couple times -- but not heavily flirted. There is only one problem: She says she is 21, and I'm 15. What should I do?

There really isn't a lot you can do ... except realize that the possibility and reality of a relationship between you and a 21-year-old is kind of silly and absurd.

I am not trying to be mean, but this would be like you dating an 11-year-old ... you're on two different emotional and maturity plains. She can drive, you can't. She can stay out past 10 p.m. on a school night; you can't. She can go into a bar, you can't. She can get into an R-rated movie; you can't.

I know it's really cool to think about someone much older liking you, but the problem comes into play when we can't separate fantasy from reality. The fantasy/fun is the flirting. The reality is it would be against the law for the two of you to date.

So, help the babysitter out. Take good care of your siblings. Have fun and talk, laugh and even flirt. But keep it all in perspective.