As children, it’s ingrained in our heads that ourparentsare a team, so it’s no secret that when this team splits, it can be painful for the kids. Watching your parents with someone else can be tough too, but you would never imagine them dating someone younger than you, right? Wrong!

The 24-year-old Reddit user,THROWRAdeli9, is completely disgusted as her 62-year-old father started dating a 23-year-old girl. He even brought her to a family barbeque and made things weird for everyone, leaving the original poster (OP) at a loss!

More info:Reddit

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Divorce can be tough even on adult children and seeing your parents with someone else can be equally difficult

Man and woman holding hands, reflecting age-gap relationship dynamics.

Image credits:pressfoto / Freepik (not the actual photo)

The poster’s parents were on friendly terms during separation, but her dad took it hard after the divorce and started frequenting bars and going on blind dates

Image credits:THROWRAdeli9

Older man with a younger woman outdoors, related to dad dating a younger girl.

Image credits:DanielHernandez1976 / Freepik (not the actual photo)

One day, he told them that he is in a new relationship and showed them his new girlfriend, who is only 23 years old, even younger than the poster

Dad dining with two younger women, enjoying wine and conversation.

Image credits:prostooleh / Freepik (not the actual photo)

The poster is uncomfortable with it all and doesn’t even feel like meeting her dad anymore as she knows he will talk about his girlfriend

Today’s story might be a little difficult to stomach, just as it was for the original poster (OP). What happened was that her parents were on friendly terms during their separation, but herdadtook the divorce pretty hard and started frequenting bars and going on blind dates.

While the poster and her mom were both concerned about this, nothing could prepare them for what happened a month ago. He told them that he was in a relationship and showed them a picture of his newgirlfriendwho, shockingly, turned out to be a 23-year-old girl, a year younger than even the poster!

He couldn’t stop talking about her and claimed that she had an “old soul”, but when theex-wifeexpressed how absurd it sounded, he took offense and said she was an adult and it was all legal. He also added that if she couldn’t support him then it was her problem, and they didn’t know how to feel about it all.

The poster knew that it was legal, yet she couldn’t get over how uncomfortable it made her. He even invited his girlfriend to a family BBQ, which made things weird for everyone present, but he didn’t even notice it. OP felt that the young woman looked childlike and nervous, but her father kept telling everyone how great theirrelationshipwas and kept kissing her.

The poster is at a complete loss and doesn’t know what to do, and all she knows is that she thinks it is very weird. Now, she even avoids meeting him because she knows that he will keep talking about his girlfriend and she’ll be reminded how weird it was at the BBQ. Even hermomdoesn’t like it, but really, what can they do about it?

Young woman looking confused on a city street, wearing headphones, pondering dating advice for her dad’s younger girlfriend.

Image credits:SkelDry / Freepik (not the actual photo)

While divorce is on therise, it has also been observed that gray divorce (divorce after 50) has grown to over36%. While her parents’ divorce might not be that unusual for the poster, the girlfriend younger than her might be quite horrifying for her.

Onestudysuggests that adult children of divorcing parents may grapple with shifting family dynamics, feelings of betrayal, and concerns about their parents’ well-being. Anotherstudystates that these adult children might face symptoms of psychological distress.

American authorJill Filipovicpoints out in an article, “Older men who date young girls are indeed looking for someone who will admire them, who they can mold, and who will make them feel sophisticated and important.”

However,Psych Centralstates that sometimes it’s love, other times, it’s actually the energy, appearance, and life perspective of a younger woman that may be attractive to an older man, and the intention may not be a healthy one.

Folks online sympathized with the poster and many advised her to go to her father about how uncomfortable it made her

Comment offering advice about dealing with dad dating someone younger than daughter.

Reddit comment discussing a dad’s 23-year-old girlfriend, mentioning the awkward age difference and relationship dynamics.

Text advice on a forum discussing discomfort with dad’s younger girlfriend; seeks relationship guidance.

Reddit comment offering advice on a dad dating someone younger than his daughter.

Reddit comment about a dad dating a younger girl, age difference concerns, and seeking advice.

Comment on age gap in relationships; humor about legality and true love.

Reddit comment discussing a dad’s relationship with a younger girlfriend, suggesting limited contact.

Reddit user comments on being weirded out by dad dating a younger girlfriend, seeks advice.

Comment on relationship age gap: “Just hope he doesn’t marry her,” by user lightningvolcanoseal.

Comment discussing a dad’s younger girlfriend, implying a future rushed wedding.

Comment offering advice on dealing with a dad’s younger girlfriend in a relationship context.

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