Do you agree that once children grow up, parents should be able to forge new relationships without their consent?

When David begins to see Jane, he maintains that his children, Dylan and Jack, do not have a say in their relationship. Do you agree that once children grow up, parents should be able to forge new relationships without their consent?

I agree, but since people in the throes of a new romance - especially one with physical attraction - can be blind to hints of problems, I believe that children or good friends need to speak up about things they see that are warning signs.

I would hope that by the time kids are adults, they should be able to mind their own business and let parents mind theirs.

Consent is the wrong word. The parent does not need consent. There is a difference between expressing one's feelings about a relationship and thinking one can interfere with the relationship.

One of the things about the book that perplexed me is that people were shocked, but shock didn't last very long. That seemed unrealistic to me.

Yes I do agree. I became single when my two sons were 5 and 9. Then it was very important that they liked the men I was dating. I never remarried as I unfortunately did not think anyone I dated would be a good stepfather. I stopped dating years ago but if I was to meet someone I think my grown children would know that I would be making the right choice and be happy for me.

Yes, I do agree.

In normal circumstance I feel that parents should be able to form new relationships, once their children are grown, and out of the house.

Yes, but I think "consent" isn't the correct term to use. In a way, I think it shouldn't be the business of the children regardless of their age. I found it very odd that so many details about their private sex life was shared with their adult children.

I agree with many of the previous reviews that say consent isn’t the correct term. Hopefully one would find a companion that fit into the family dynamic but it should’t negate a happy relationship. Likewise I do not think it is the norm to discuss your sex life with your children. It just seems salacious.

Yes, I agree grown children consent is not necessary. In today's society, the traditional nuclear family is, unfortunately, not the norm. Grown children should be busy carving out their niche. They should be striving to create their own positive legacy. However, in this situation, and I'm sure families today deal with "crazier" situations than the one Gang created, I can see where the boys (especially because they are young adults who are not married with their own families) had a hard time with their parents' decision and expressed their displeasure. I can also understand where they blamed their father over their mother. I understand their need to protect her. So many emotions - which is why additional time devoted to the story development may have helped the reader "buy in."

Yes, adult children should not be dictating parents' relationships. However, I would hope they would intervene if I was suddenly enthralled with a dubious internet heart throb who needed money!

I think parents should be able to have new relationships without the wholehearted consent/approval of children, especially in the case of divorce or death of the other spouse. In this case, where a spouse has early age Alzheimer's, it is conceivable that the other spouse may find solace in another person, BUT it is understandable that the children would be upset.

Of course. It is sometimes difficult for children to accept remarriages, especially. In this case the boys visited often, it seems, but they had their own lives.

I believe parents should be able to forge new relationships without their kids' consent, but it is completely normal for the kids to have thoughts and feelings about said relationships.

I don't think I would need their "consent," but I would definitely want their "input." A relationship between two consenting adults is their business, but family is always part of that business. It is an interesting question, and one I hope that I never have to experience personally.

Yes, unless there are clear signs of abuse or the parent is unable to see major personality defects. Such as the husband in “Dirty John.”