16 year old student marries 40 year old

[ratdogg]

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Story?id=3305652&page=2

Coach, 40, Weds 16-Year-Old Student

Anguished Parents Sign Consent Forms, Saying They Had No Choice Font Size

The Hagers contacted police; they even tried to get a restraining order.

"We've tried everybody. We've been to the law. We've been to the school board," Betty said. "Our family has come and tried to talk to her. We've had people on the phone with her for hours — family, friends. We've been to our pastor asking for guidance. We've been to his pastor."

Meanwhile, the Hagers say Windy withdrew, refusing to speak to them until she asked them to sign a consent form so that she and her coach — a man more than twice her age — could get married.

Although anguished, her weary parents gave in.

"Signing those consent forms was the hardest thing I did in my whole life, but we had to move on, it was going to kill us all," Dennis said.

Monday, Windy and Wuchae married, and he resigned from the school.

But was Windy really old enough to understand her decision? Experts say it's a difficult situation.

"With most teenagers, they're not sure yet who's who and what's what and what should be done," said Henry Paul, author of the book "Is My Teenager OK?" "It's obviously up to the adult figure to set the boundaries."

Windy and her new husband would not comment for this story, but the Hagers realize what they've lost.

ewwww, it is so disgusting that this can happen. how is possibly legal?!?!?

[Alysser]

That is really disgusting! The parents, IMO, anyway obviously didn't try hard enough to convince her. Not that it's any of my business really, but that really is sick, who'd do that? None the less, LET their kid do that. The dude is old enough to be her father!

Too each his own...I guess.

[Edwina's Secretary]

When I was in high school there were these twin sisters. The week after we graduated one of them married the German teacher (she was already 18...)

Last I knew...they were still married....

[Laura's Babies]

That is disgusting! I can not believe the school board wouldn't do anything and that is disgusting too!

[Giselle]

Stupid, idiotic, impulsive. Ah, the joys of teenhood

Hmm, I wonder how she's going to live the rest of her life...

[wombat2u2004]

Why is this disgusting folks ?????
The two in question may well love each other.
They may live happily ever after and surprise all.
I hope they do.
Wom

[G535]

My friend is 60, her husband is 86 and they have been happily married for over 40 years.

[crow_noir]

I don't see what's so wrong about it. They are both consensual.

ewwww, it is so disgusting that this can happen. how is possibly legal?!?!?

[steel]

legal age in new jersey is 16.the teen girl has known her coach since she was 14.the police cant prove they were having sex,etc ... so they cant do anything.in america the divorce rate is over 50% so hopefully this marriage works out.its 2007 not 1907.16 yr olds are not babies and many of them are quite mature.its their business what they do with their lives,not ours.i shall send the newlyweds a congradulations e-mail.the girl is a cutie as well.i wonder if she she has a twin sister..hmmmmmm maybe a summer trip to nj is in order.i have family near hackensack.

[Lilith Cherry]

My best friend at school was 17 when she married our 39 year old English teacher ( he moved schools) . They have been married for forty years now and have three grown children. They are a happy loving family! Love comes in many forms so please don't be judgemental.

[ratdogg]

so would it be ok for a 10 year old to marry a 30 year old then?

[sparks19]

There are plenty of 16 year olds out there getting pregnant and get stuck raising the baby on their own..... I think a consensual marriage isn't that big a deal..... at 16 you can emancipate yourself and be an adult..... and while it may only be 6 years..... 10 and 16 are a far cry from each other. There is a HUGE amount of developement going on between 10 and 16 and A LOT of things change. In some places 16 is a legal age.....

Do you think if she waited till she was 18 there would be a big difference? It's only two years.... and not really a HUGE 2 years in developement. Why would it be more acceptable at 18? it is not a choice I would have made but that doesn't matter.

[vinjashira]

so would it be ok for a 10 year old to marry a 30 year old then?

no it's not ok for a 10 year old to marry a 30 year old.
in fact it's not ok for a 10 year old to marry another 10 year old either.

the fact is she is 16 not 10.

[catnapper]

I've been thinking about this thred. I think there are 3 ways a 16 year old can fall in love:
1) they honestly fall in love. Like Wombat's mom, it can be a lasting love.
2) they fall in love with the idea of being in love. They might not have much self confidence and a guy can take advantage of that. Whether they are 20 years older or the same age, a guy can manipulate their insecurity and make the girl think they are the greatest thing going and the girl falls hard for the guy pretending to be everything she ever wanted. I think this is part of Ashley's thing with Cameron's dad.... I'm sorry to admit she had pooor self-confidence. I think this is also where my coworker's ex-wives fall. He simply wanted the youthful figure they had
3) they pick a guy who excites them and makes the parents cringe. Teens are good at rebelling and good at picking out boyfriends who make mom and dad see red. (I also swear this is another part of why Ashley chose Cam's father.)

Now, if they fall in love with option 1, there's nothing we can do but sit back and watch their love grow. If they fall in love with #2 or 3, then we can sit back and watch everything fall apart. If we interfere (especially with reason #3) we only make the guy more attactive. It'll only be a matter of time before she realizes her mistake. It'll be up to her how long she take to admit and rectify her mistake. Thankfully Ashley didn't take too long (only 1 year - yahoo the jerk is gone!).

[joycenalex]

legal age in new jersey is 16.....its 2007 not 1907...

and i'd lay odds a 16 year old in 1907 was more responsible then 2007.