It's hard to miss stories about the engagement of Miley Cyrus - at just 19.
Her 22-year-old fiancé, Liam Hemsworth (Gale in "The Hunger Games"), is an older man - sort of.
In true Hollywood fashion, Miley Cyrus's dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, tweeted his support.
But would you give your blessing to your kids if they wanted to tie the knot at 19 or even 22? Or would you panic?
Some advice on what to do if you're worried that your child may head into marriage earlier than you'd like:
Avoid lecturing. "Put tape on your mouth, and just listen," says Beverly Hills, Calif., psychotherapist Fran Walfish, author of The Self-Aware Parent. "The parents should take the engaged offspring out to lunch or dinner and sit down and really have a heart to heart, an honest, open dialogue, rather than shoving the parents' opinions, ideas, thoughts and judgments down the kids' throats." Don't tell your children what to do, says Walfish. "Kids hate it."
Ask questions. But do so in a curious, nonjudgmental way, says Walfish. "Have you thought about how you will pay rent? Have you thought about whether both of you are going to work full time? Do you have medical insurance? What if June gets pregnant? Do you feel ready to have children, either by accident or planned? Have you talked about it with your fiance?"
Share your own experiences with marriage. "You had to make your own mistakes and learn from them," says Walfish. "They're born with the right of making mistakes and learning from them. It's easier said than done!"
Know that some young marriages are hugely successful. Walfish notes that her own mother tied the knot at 18 - and stayed married for the next 62 years.
Don't micromanage. "You know how when you get married, people say, 'good luck'?" says Walfish. "There's an element of luck that's truly involved."
Recognize that divorce is always an option. If the marriage doesn't work, it's not the end of the world. "Keep them hopeful to get back in the ring and try again!" says Walfish.
Recognize that deviating from the norm is a little harder - but not impossible. "It's always easier in life to do the milestones in the normal order," says Hindy.
Don't just say no. "You don't want to set yourself up as the parent who's opposed to marriage," says Nashua, N.H., psychologist Carl Hindy, the father of four. And don't just say, "If he really loves you, maybe he'll wait until after you graduate," says Hindy. Instead, use some personal anecdotes. "I remember when I was your age" is a good starter. "Then use more personal anecdotes," says Hindy. "You want to be supportive and helpful."
Think about the older-and-wiser adage. When anyone is a few years more advanced, "you're a little bit older, and you know better who you are and what you want," says Hindy.
Know the research. In a Brigham Young University survey that asked the ideal age for marriage, students said 25 and parents said 26.
Don't get too hung up on finances. "If money is no object, you can go off in various hedonistic directions," says Hindy. "If you're free to indulge your impulses because you have the money, then the risk of getting in trouble with your impulses is much higher."
Let us know if the engagement of Miley Cyrus inspires you to talk to your own kids about the ideal marriage age.
For more about marriage, read: