There is a certain subset of men who fetishize the whole "newly/barely legal" thing. It's something you need to be aware of, OP. These men are not prospective relationship partners, they are just there to fulfill their fantasy.

On the bright side, the older you do get, the more appropriate certain age gaps get (at your discretion).

But honestly, the main thing I want to say is that you need to be safe and avoid people that make you uncomfortable.

As far as your parents are concerned, you wouldn't bring anyone home that you weren't proud of. They don't need to know that you are specifically into MUCH older men, but you should be considerate to the fact that they are your parents and want you to be with someone who makes you happy (if you are looking for a long term/stable relationship) as well someone they feel is good enough for you that they can also trust.

I had the same feelings when I was your age. I am now 23 (female) and with a 25 year old (male). When I was 17/18, I had short lived relationships with both a 22 year old and a 24 year old. I mean, that's not a huge age gap, but as I mentioned earlier, they were only really into me because I was "fresh", neither of them were into me to date. It was a hard lesson to learn. It's even worse when you start to notice that these are the guys that repeatedly go after 17/18 year old girls.

Do take note that everyone here is going to advocate that what you feel is normal. The main takeaway here is that you prioritize your safety because you do not need to be taken advantage of.