Two-Year Age Difference a Problem?

Dear Dee:
I like this guy who may be a bit older then me but both of us like one other!
What should I do if we are 2 years apart?

Two years really isn't that big of a deal in the general scheme of age differences, but remember that if we're talking 16 & 18, this guy is legally an adult -- and it's illegal for him to date a minor.

Also, keep in mind that in relationships where age is a factor, expectations can also be different based on maturity and what a person is looking for in a relationship. For instance a person who's 17 or 18 might be ready for something a little more serious than some one's who 15 or 16.

It is just important to use discretion when dating someone who's older when you're a teen. Later in life, it's seriously no biggie and if you date an older guy or a younger guy, it's your business. But at this time in your life, it is important to be a little more careful.

Make sure your relationship expectations are about the same. Also, you two might have different ideas of where this relationship can go. For instance, if he's 17, he's thinking of college. And you, at 15 are just trying to get through sophomore year and get asked to homecoming.

Also, as a more experienced guy, he might expect more physically than what you are ready to -- or should even think of giving right now. (Not that it's OK for him, either ... but ...)

So just be smart. It's so easy to fall for the older guy -- for some reason they're cuter than guys your age and they drive and ugh ... they totally know how to kiss ... but they're also moving in a different direction than what you are ... college, jobs, futures, etc ... So is it really the smartest thing to do? Well, that's the hard part ... right?

But if you really, really think about it, you can come to the right conclusion. ... I know you can.