Oh please. I know a couple who started dating when the woman was 16 and the man was 29. They got married four years later and had three kids together.

Is it for everyone? Certainly not. But can it work out okay? It certainly can.

I should point out, though, that a major difference between this couple and the the LW's relationship is that the woman's parents already knew the man well and trusted him long before dating their daughter was even thought of. Also, he asked them for permission to take her out on the first date, and *then* asked her.