thedatingfeminist: It is an adult’s job not to...

thedatingfeminist:

It is an adult’s job not to date children.
I don’t care how “mature” your teenage partner is.
I don’t care how “careful” you are to “not be abusive”.
I don’t care how much you want this relationship.
I don’t care how much that kid wants to date you.
If you are in your 20s (or older!) and your partner is both a teenager and more than a year or two younger, that relationship is actively dangerous to your partner.
It is your responsibility as an adult to not date a child.
Kids should be able to have harmless crushes on adults without adults acting on them.
Kids should be exploring their sexuality and romantic feelings with other kids their own age, not with adults.
It is not possible to have an adult/child dating relationship without an unhealthy power dynamic. Being in a romantic or sexual relationship with an child is emotional and/or sexual abuse.
Teenagers need to learn where healthy boundaries lie between them and authority figures/people with power over them. Encouraging them to date adults actively discourages teenagers from developing appropriate boundaries.
However “kind” you are to your teenage partner, dating them is harming them, and that is 100% YOUR FAULT.
It is your responsibility as an adult to not date a child.