My wife & I have an 18-year-old son. He started university in September, studying medicine. There he met this 41-year-old man - a classmate, and they became really good friends. This man has just started university now at this age because apparently he was born poor and in the first half of his life was focused on making money, but medicine is a dream of his. Son has always been an introverted, shy, socially awkward kid with little friends, but now goes out often. Honestly my wife & I are uncomfortable, and we can’t help but side eye the dude.
Every single person I have met that goes to college later in life are driven to meet their objectives regardless of their starting conditions and environments and generally a good influence to everyone around them. Since you are around his age, it should be easy to imagine what it would take for someone with his background to stay determined and commit to study for years as a 41 year old. I understand why you may be worried but it may honestly be better for your child to be around with someone older who has had time to work on themselves, know where they are going and willing to commit to get there.
What’s the reason? They’re worried about this guy fucking their son? Or is it more that they’re worried he’ll give their son a second opinion about what the world looks like to middle aged people?
Possibly that he will use his many more years of experience living as an adult to manipulate their son.