They say age ain’t nothing but a number, but when comparing Taylor Swift with current boyfriend Conor Kennedy the number might eventually matter. Swift, 22, and Kennedy, 18, have been dating for several months now and seem inseparable.

Does anyone find it weird, though, that a 22-year-old (she’ll be 23 in December) is dating a high school student?

The four-year age gap between the two has raised many questions. It seems as though this relationship may just be puppy love.

In most relationships the first six months are the “swoon” stage, filled with PDA and constant phone calls, which Swift and Kennedy have repeatedly displayed. The two have only been together for around four months.

I can’t imagine dating someone who is four or five years younger than me. My youngest brother is 18 and I even feel out of place when I find myself calling his friends cute.

Before meeting the 18-year-old, Swift stated that she had interest in the Kennedy family history and read several books on the family. This makes me wonder: Is she solely in love with the thought of dating a Kennedy?

Swift recently bought a $4.9 million oceanfront mansion in Cape Cod, right across the street from the Kennedy family compound. It’s only been a few months and she is living in the same neighborhood as the Kennedy family. A bit much? It feels almost unnatural for her to move into her boyfriend’s neighborhood so soon. It also begs the question: what happens when they break up? She will have a house down the street from her ex-boyfriend. Not a bright idea.

Swift has always been viewed as a country sweetheart, however, she may have a voice in the back of her mind saying "You got this. He is younger and that means a little fun.” Looking at Swift’s past relationships, I believe she wanted to have more leverage/power in this relationship. Her being older allows her to call more shots in the relationship compared to relationships with previous boyfriends. She may not admit to it, but I am sure it’s crossed her mind.

In addition to dating a younger man, Swift has also made many changes in her style. Her old southern sweetheart signature style, which was getting a little boring, has taken a complementary turn to the 1950s. I like the newfound sophistication in her wardrobe that is reminiscent of Jackie O and the Kennedy family.

Classic streamline dresses, polka-dot ascot blouses, and vibrant red lipstick seem to be her recent favorites. Apparently a new man equals a new wardrobe.

I cannot say if the relationship is a real or fake because I am not in Swift’s heart. But I can say that Kennedy is still a teenage boy who has his senior year of high school and college days ahead of him. I don’t know many 18-year-old boys who would stay in a relationship longer than Kim Kardashian’s engagement and marriage combined. We can only watch and see what happens in the future (I’ll give it until the summer). If this relationship doesn’t work out, at least Swift will have no trouble finding another boyfriend.

 

Reach Staff Reporter Amen Oyiboke-Osifo here.