I don’t get it. I freely admit that I don’t understand the entire situation and quite frankly, I never will. What kinds of thoughts are running through the minds of some adults that cause them to believe having an illicit relationship with a teenager is perfectly acceptable?

Age differences have been the norm for generations. Traditionally, the male has been the elder, but times have changed and today an older woman/younger man scenario is becoming more common, albeit with perhaps a raised brow or whisper behind the back.

But now, some adults are not only finding teenagers physically attractive, but following through on those urges. Sadly, teachers seem to be leading the way, and women in particular are at the forefront. Then there’s the case of the mom who wanted to be a kid again so badly that she threw parties and slept with her son’s friends, all in an effort to be ‘cool’. This is not a movement that women should be proud of.

Realizing that it’s a matter of personal taste, I still have difficulty in understanding why or how a grown woman can be sexually attracted to someone who is little more than a child. But attraction or not, the decision to follow through on that attraction and cross the line has serious consequences. Reputations and careers are ruined, families broken apart, arrests and criminal records established, and trust is destroyed.

Situations such as these also have a domino effect in that they bring about unintended changes that are not necessarily for the good.

Throughout my school years I’ve had good and bad teachers, but the really great ones were those I could turn to, not only for words of advice or encouragement, but an occasional friendly hug or literal pat on the back on a particularly bad day. A teacher today would be loath to even think of such a thing for fear of what might be said. And the result is that a kid, who may have no one else in his or her life to turn to for support, goes without, and a teacher is unable to make the full impact in someone’s life that they were born to do.

The few short teenage years are fraught with so many changes that most of us can’t wait to grow up and move on. It’s only later that we realize how special that time was, but when it’s past then it’s past. We can’t go back, and no amount of trying to live like a kid will turn any of us into one again. Anyone who is tempted to take the risk should realize this before they make a choice that will have disastrous consequences for everyone.