I'm dating this great guy, but he's 14 and I'm 17. I'm really starting to like him, but I know it can't get serious because of our age difference. But should age really matter?

A big age difference doesn't automatically equal a bad relationship--just think of Courteney Cox, 35, and hubbie David Arquette, 28. But at your age, major gaps in maturity and interests between people who are even only a few months apart can be pretty obvious. That's not to say that this love connection is a no-go, though. Just find out if your romance is right by asking yourself if you're in it for the right reasons.

So let's start with the not-so-good news about why you might be dating this guy. Do you have a history of going for younger guys? If so, why? Are you avoiding older guys 'cause you have a bad track record of being hurt by them? Or because it's intimidating--they move at a faster pace physically than you like? Also think about your own confidence level. Do you feel that you can't attract someone who's more on your level? Or is this the only guy who is paying attention to you right now, so you're like 'why not?' Think about these questions to determine if you're interested in this guy because of who he is or because you don't feel good enough about who you are.

Now for the good news (phew!). To be fair, not all 14-year-olds are superimmature. This guy could be more on-the-ball than some adults in your life. Maybe he had to grow up quickly because of circumstances in his family. Who knows? He may have a lot to teach you about life.

If you're questioning the relationship because of others' expectations--maybe your friends and family are making fun of you for liking a baby-faced boy--then you've got to take a look at why you really care about what they're saying. Real maturity is knowing you should follow your own heart and instincts. So if you like this guy, sure the relationship can fly! Just be careful about obsessing over whether this relationship can get superserious. At 17, you're still young and you can pretty much assume that most 14-year-old guys aren't thinking "serious" yet. You both have so many more people to meet and experiences to have. For now, just keep having fun. Dating means researching the kinds of people you like to be around. If you decide slightly younger guys are more your speed then that's fine--just make sure it's for all the right reasons.