Okay, I was a twenty year old that married a fifteen year old. We had our first child when she was fifteen and our second when she was eighteen. Our children are now twenty six and twenty three. I'm still married to the love of my life. We've had a great marriage. I agree that this may be an "exception", but I wouldn't have had it any other way.

I just think it depends on the situation. I know a family who got a lot of flak for allowing their fourteen year old to date a man in his twenties, and as soon as she was eighteen (she actually might have still been seventeen) they got married, and now they've been married maybe ten years. So everything that happened back then, and all the people who were so up in arms about it, are kind of pointless now.
I don't know that I'd let my own kids do it, but it just seems like a situation you would have to evaluate based on the people involved.

i absolutley agree with you on most though i think if an adult say 26 and 16 fall or whatever the age gap difference is i say i am all for it however only with parents permission would i say go for it.

First of all my kids would NEVER be dateing someone 10 years their senior. Second off legally this relationship is considered statatory rape by the courts. Third off this parent should not only lose this kid to DCF but any other kids she may have. This is not a decision that a good parent would make! I became a mom for the first time at 20 although I don't regret either of my kids it wasnt my best decision to start a family and we are financial strugleing because of that. Any GOOD parent would want the best for their kids and not allow them to enter a situation SUCH AS MARRIAGE AT 16 that may ruin that life! THIS WOMEN IS A HORRIBLE PARENT!

No, you are right, it wouldn't be Rape. It would be Statutory Rape. Adults are supposed to know better.

This did NOT happen in america.. it happened in New Zeland

I was 12 when i started dating my hubby(19) to be,i married him 2 yrs later at 14 and was still able to wear white at my wedding. Sex before marriage, neither of us thought was right. Of course in the early 50s, girls were more responsible and cared about themselves enough to wait for marriage. I had 10 children in 9 years with only one twin birth. i was 15 when my first girl was born and I was 24 when my last girl was born.We were married for 50 years and i just lost him in 05. Today , marriage isn`t sacred any more because of all the teens experimenting with sex because of the Planned Parenthood Association and their secrecy for allowing kids protection WITHOUT their parents consent. This is what has caused so many teen pregnancies.It is shocking and unreal that some girls 10 are no longer virgins . Only GOD can say who is too young for marriage, and if they are mature enough to take on years of children and responsibilities. I would never recommend my life for todays girls, they are none of them taught responsibility any more. I was cooking and cleaning and babysitting at 10, that would be unheard of today. I also graduated high school at 16, loved school and learned well.

It is only statutory rape if there is sex (comsentual or not) between a minor and adult prior to marriage; dating is never illegal, and marriage between minors and adults, with parental consent, is legal in most states.

Satutory rape laws are in effect to keep adults from taking advantage of innocent teens. These laws are good and serve a legitimate purpose.

If teens are responsible (a distinction and decision responsible parents are usually capable of making) and the relationship is within the context of a committed marriage relationship, it would not be classified as taking advantage of a minor. Hence the distinction in legality of underage marriage vs. sex with a minor before marriage being the crime of statutory rape.

They were given legal permission to get married so it wouldnt be counted as statutory rape. I am dating a man who is 5 years older than me and hes wonderful. I have always been more mature than my age. I am 17 and ive already finished high school and completed my first year of college.

For one... Miley allows her DAD to live with HER, I'm sure. I think Daddy is a yes-man because he's riding the Miley train, too. That little girl had to grow up too fast and was 'sexualized' at such a young age... I totally blame Daddy for that mess. He wanted fame and cash at the expense of ANYTHING. Including his own child.



MiMo

Ok, so a guy could get jail time if someone even suspects that he "might" be talking to a girl who "might" look to be under age.
But its OK for her to date and have sex with a teen kid as long as he's under 18..
What kind of screwed up mentality is this?
Who is the more responsible one? The older guy who can support her? Or a horny "sk8er" teen?

exactly....no one should be charged with rape in that case...glad to hear so many people think this way, including kate winslet

My husband is eighteen years older than I am, we met when I was 18 at work. He is the most considerate and gentleman-like person I've ever met. I left my previous boyfriend (who was my age at the time) when I met my husband. If it were my daughter in my shoes, I would much rather see her happy with a man twice her age than be miserable with someone her age.
Those teenagers know exactly what their doing!

Unique thought, it worked for you but you don't think it should for anyone else!!

Chris, that's not really my thought. I'm saying it works for us, but it isn't right for everyone. I don't make the assumption that, because it worked for me, that it will automatically work for everyone else.

I've seen it work and not work, but I don't think a teenager has the life experiences to make this sort of commitment or decision. It's a decision that must be based on knowledge. There are things that I thought I would be doing, but had to know going into this marriage that it wouldn't happen; and things that he thought he wouldn't be doing that he is finding he is now going through again (afterall he passed that "phase" of life).

These are decisions that a teenager doesn't have the capability (developmentally) to make and decide on.