Where Do You Stand? Friends of Different Ages

October 7, 2008

Throughout college and even after, my friends were all in the same age range, but over time I've found that the ages of my friends drastically vary. I've grown closer to the younger siblings of my friends, but also befriended women who are closer to my mom’s age than my own. And frankly, I appreciate the variation.

It’s reassuring to have a woman in my life who’s already been through it all tell me I’m going to be OK, and likewise, my younger friends remind me that being idealistic is a good thing! So where do you stand when it comes to having friends who are much older or younger than you? Are you for it? Or do you find it strange?

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25 Comments

thelorax 4 years 31 weeks

I just recently joined a bible study with my church that is comprised of women ranging from 17 to 60+ and I so look forward to our meetings because the time we spend together is so rich, and I learn so much from the older ladies who have been there, done that! I don't think it's weird.

skigurl 4 years 32 weeks

i love it! one of my groups of friends consists of me (25 and living at home with my parents), a 28 year old (single and living in a rental), and a 37 year old with baby #2 on the way (married and living in a beautiful new house)....they're amazing friends and have awesome perspective on stuff different from the friends that are my age...plus, they don't have the same drama issues as younger people and when they go out to have fun, they really know how to have fun then i have a group who are my age, and my boyfriend is my age and then my other bf is my sister who is 18

looseseal 4 years 32 weeks

I think the older you get, the less age differences matter. Remember how, in grade school, it was practically taboo to be friends with people one whole grade level below you (or more, gasp!)? And if you're a first grader you do NOT mix with kids one year younger - they're babies, and you're a big kid! Heehee. Feeling more free to make friends with people of a variety of ages is definitely one of the perks of growing up.

Kelliegrl 4 years 32 weeks

I think it's ok to have friends of varying ages - you learn a lot from people who are a lot older or a lot younger. For me, I think it's helpful to do specific types of activities w/specific people/age groups. But that just how I operate.

UrbanBohemian 4 years 32 weeks

I recently became close to a woman who is 10 years older than me. I am 26, and she is 36. She's single, successful at work, and has the luxury to travel and go on career breaks. Being single myself and trying to break into my own field, I look up to her and view her as a role model.

Joelgasm 4 years 32 weeks

and just as an afterthought, I became friends with the older people through my mom. :] and then because of the friend in her 40's i became friends with the 21 year old. :]

Joelgasm 4 years 32 weeks

and just as an afterthought, I became friends with the older people through my mom. :] and then because of the friend in her 40's i became friends with the 21 year old. :]

Joelgasm 4 years 32 weeks

I'm 18 and I have a 21 year old friend, and a friend in her 30's and a friend who's in her 40's. My best friend is almost 2 years younger than me though, and most of my other really close friends are around my age. It doesn't really matter to me though, cuz I always have fun with them and I know that if I need advice or a shoulder to cry on, they'll be there. But yeah, I think it's great.

chatondeneige 4 years 32 weeks

Mesayme, 20-somethings can talk about finances and children, too! I actually don't remember the last time I had a conversation about makeup, unless telling my best friend "I need to run to the store, I'm completely out of foundation" counts as a conversation. On the other hand, we did have a discussion over lunch about what the economy is doing these days, and how we should prepare for it. I'm 23 and in college right now, so my social group is pretty much limited to people my age or a little younger. When I lived in a smaller town, no one in my social circle was my age - everyone around my age had babies, so I was limited to younger people or much older ones who didn't have to find a sitter. When I move and live near my sister, I assume I'll adopt some of her friends, they're mostly a fair bit older than me.

cubadog 4 years 32 weeks

I love having older friends, I have one in particular that gives the greatest advice and we have the best time together. She completly understands me and I would be very sad if she was not in my life.

psterling 4 years 32 weeks

My former bosses (both older than me) are really dear to my heart and have given me invaluable personal and professional advice. They've been there and done that and I really appreciate their input. I also used to mentor 11-13 year-old girls, many of whom are not just starting college and we still keep in touch. I love seeing them becoming their own women and I love being able to offer them advice based on my own experience- when they ask. It feels good to be able to be both the responsible adult and the naive youth in different situations.

Mesayme 4 years 32 weeks

*children and finances... :OOPS:

Mykie7 4 years 32 weeks

I don't care what the persons age is. If I can enjoy myself around them, then I do. I like to hang out with my younger friends when I'm feeling a little "cut loosey" and know I want to act a bit juvenile. Friends my age I hange with most of the time, and then my older friends I'm with for certain types of outings. I don't think, just like in a romantic relationship, that age matters. I mean, if the person is really immature, I'm not going to be with that person, but they don't necessarily have to be really young to be highly immature.

Mesayme 4 years 32 weeks

My friends are the same age (30s) or older than me(40s)...I just don't have much in common with younger women who don't have similar life experiences that I can relate to. My friends and I talk about friends and finances...not shoes and makeup. Or retirement and grandchildren. Although, talking with elderly women is awesome and there's much to learn through the retelling of their experiences.

GlowingMoon 4 years 32 weeks

I'm open to it. I'm in the same boat as Bbkf. :)

Nitachequita 4 years 32 weeks

My friends range all over - from 25 through 50. I love the range, and I don't think it makes a difference, as some of my older friends are young-at-heart, and some of my younger friends are fuddy-duddies. My younger friends will, however, sometimes make generalizations about "older" people in their 30s, then turn red as they realize I'm one of THOSE people.

partysugar 4 years 32 weeks

I have friends of a bunch of ages ranging from 23-37 and I think its great for the exact reasons you stated!

CYL 4 years 32 weeks

All my friends are older and I don't mind, since I don't mesh well with people my age anyways. The only thing that bothers me is sometimes they use the "oh you are so young" or "oh you are just young" thing dismissively like I don't know what they are talking about or as a reason why I see things a particular way...that annoys the crap out of me.

356UIK 4 years 32 weeks

I have a wiiiiiiide ass range, from as young as 20 to upper 60s here at work. I can never get over how I totally cant tell the difference between people age-wise.

geebers 4 years 32 weeks

I range too - that is how I have always been though.

Sun_Sun 4 years 32 weeks

well my best friends r my age...but our couple friends are definitely all older and i get along with them just fine

JaimeLeah526 4 years 32 weeks

My friends are all within 5 years of me in one direction or another. Right now since I'm only 23 there is a huge difference in our personalities and our lifestyles. If we were older than it wouldn't be that bad because we'd all be at the same point in our lives.

Pallas Athena 4 years 32 weeks

I have tons of friends who are older or younger or the same age as me. I love learning things and remembering things and being to relate to others at one moment (not people who have gone through it already) so the age variations are good.

popgoestheworld 4 years 32 weeks

I wish my friendship age range was a little more varied. I hope that if/when I move out of the city and become a bonafide adult, I can meet some people of different ages.

bbkf 4 years 32 weeks

I have pretty much no friends my age (25). Everyone my age has babies or young kids except me, so my husband and I hang out with older people with no kids/older kids (that they don't have to watch all the time), or college-age people.

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