Me (48). SB (21). My sister who is 10 years my junior crossed paths with my SB at my house yesterday. My sister was on her way out, as my SB was on her way in. Nothing occurred then. However, the next day she started expressing concerns of dating someone half my age, and that it will be perceived a certain way in public and within friend and family groups. My current SB says “I would date you in front of your friends.” We only just started our relationship, this is my first SR. I’m unbelievably centered in what I’m doing. My response to my sister is we are two consenting adults. We both have values we see in the relationship. Etc. My sister is the first of my friends and family to know of our relationship. And with her negative energy, I didn’t want to try and defend my position, I simply wanted my sister to know I heard her and acknowledge her. So I have not brought up that this is an SR.

Do you share with friends and family that you have an SR? Do you ever include your SB with your friend groups? If so, how do you characterize your relationship? Do you coach your SB on what to say (eg “I don’t care to date boys in their 20s and 30s, they don’t know they are doing”).