Originally Posted by
IndiReloaded
Interesting way to phrase the problem. If my 17 year old daughter *chose to* have sex with a 35 year old man, I would discuss it *with her*. Of course, I don't have a daughter, but I do have a very open communication with my son. I imagine if I had a daughter it would be the same. I would want her to understand her reasons for her behaviour. If she honestly felt is was a good decision, I would have to support her even if I disagreed (I would make sure she was on birth control). I certainly wouldn't make her feel bad about it. I'm a great believer in personal responsibility. It's not my job to change the behaviour of the 35 year old, but to raise my offspring to make reasonable decisions.
You can't ever really control another person, only yourself. That includes one's children once they become of the age of reason. You can guide, suggest, and lead by example but you can't ever control. Those who try that route are parenting-fails, IMO.
I didn't ask you how you would handle it. Most mother's worth their salt would handle it the way you describe. I asked you how you'd feel about it. Forget logic for a moment.
“The willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life is the source from which self-respect springs.” ~Joan Didion