Is it normal for a teenager to have so many friends who aren't teenagers themselves?

IndieLover · 08-31-2009, 04:02 PM

Yeah, I'm 16, I have quite a few friends but as I don't go to school, they are all known through my parents and are all either ridiculously older or ridiculously younger than me. Is this common?

What brings this to light is that my 16th party would have seemed really un-cool for the few teenagers that were there. The guests were all children & adults, very few teens, and the music played reflected that.

Cognitive_Canine · 08-31-2009, 04:08 PM

I think having friends your own age will be a lot more enjoyable than those much older or much younger as people your own age will more likely be on your level and experiencing the same things in life at the relatively same time.

Zaphodb2002 · 08-31-2009, 04:19 PM

I don't think it's that strange at all. I'm 23, my girlfriend is 18, and we spend a lot of time at the barn where our horse is stabled. Most of our friends we've met there, and they range from 12 to 67. The ones we see the most are 31 and 55. In fact, the only friends I have that are close to my age are my best bud who I met in high school, he's 25, and my D&D buddies (yes I'm a nerd) who are 27 and 28. We tend to think of ourselves as "old souls", and seem to get along with people we like and have things in common with, no matter the age. I always say I'm secretly a 50 year old man, anyway. If you enjoy your friends' company, and you're happy, I see no problem. Once you get out into the real world and get a job and whatnot, everyone is all together anyway.

boonpop · 08-31-2009, 04:20 PM

I agree that it wouldn't be a bad idea to meet and mingle with people your own age, but at the same time, being surrounded by those older than you is like spending a lot of time in the library. An older person is like a library of memories. Some have lived through history and made tough decisions based on there position at the time, others have made what they believed to be the best decision and have learned from there mistakes. In the end, everyday lived should be a chance for everyone of us to become wiser and more capable to approach the next day with a fresh perspective. One thing about being home schooled or not going to school at all is that you miss out on social relationships and common interaction between peers. It may be wise for you to attend a few events with people your own age, but being surrounded by people who are more experienced lends a lot to your spiritual development and is a wonderful source to clearly see what many others your age may overlook. Just remember to pay attention.

08-31-2009, 04:02 PM	#1
IndieLover Offline Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 29	Is it normal for a teenager to have so many friends who aren't teenagers themselves? Yeah, I'm 16, I have quite a few friends but as I don't go to school, they are all known through my parents and are all either ridiculously older or ridiculously younger than me. Is this common? What brings this to light is that my 16th party would have seemed really un-cool for the few teenagers that were there. The guests were all children & adults, very few teens, and the music played reflected that. Last edited by IndieLover; 08-31-2009 at 06:05 PM.

08-31-2009, 04:20 PM	#4
boonpop Offline Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winter Park FL Gender: Male Posts: 67	I agree that it wouldn't be a bad idea to meet and mingle with people your own age, but at the same time, being surrounded by those older than you is like spending a lot of time in the library. An older person is like a library of memories. Some have lived through history and made tough decisions based on there position at the time, others have made what they believed to be the best decision and have learned from there mistakes. In the end, everyday lived should be a chance for everyone of us to become wiser and more capable to approach the next day with a fresh perspective. One thing about being home schooled or not going to school at all is that you miss out on social relationships and common interaction between peers. It may be wise for you to attend a few events with people your own age, but being surrounded by people who are more experienced lends a lot to your spiritual development and is a wonderful source to clearly see what many others your age may overlook. Just remember to pay attention. __________________ Nothing in life is haphazard. In the end, I can promise you that it's all relevant to our collective consciousness.

08-31-2009, 04:08 PM	#2
Cognitive_Canine Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Somewhere over the rainbow Gender: Female Posts: 11,321	I think having friends your own age will be a lot more enjoyable than those much older or much younger as people your own age will more likely be on your level and experiencing the same things in life at the relatively same time.

08-31-2009, 04:19 PM	#3
Zaphodb2002 Offline Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 13	I don't think it's that strange at all. I'm 23, my girlfriend is 18, and we spend a lot of time at the barn where our horse is stabled. Most of our friends we've met there, and they range from 12 to 67. The ones we see the most are 31 and 55. In fact, the only friends I have that are close to my age are my best bud who I met in high school, he's 25, and my D&D buddies (yes I'm a nerd) who are 27 and 28. We tend to think of ourselves as "old souls", and seem to get along with people we like and have things in common with, no matter the age. I always say I'm secretly a 50 year old man, anyway. If you enjoy your friends' company, and you're happy, I see no problem. Once you get out into the real world and get a job and whatnot, everyone is all together anyway.