Will it work out? Anyone else been in a similar relationship?

I have been a single mum to my three year old daughter for two years after splitting with my ex due to domestic violence. My confidence took a massive battering but thanks to friends and family I came out of the darkness stronger than ever (most days anyway). While with my ex I tried to reach out to my family and tell them what was happening but my ex manipulated them into believing I was exaggerating things and that I was the cause for the conflict in our relationship. They sent me back into the house and one day found me in a rough way and that's when they believed me about what I was trying to tell them. Any way sad stuff over they helped me get back on my feet and I am on a great path right now. The path has gotten even brighter since meeting my current partner 4 months ago. He knows about my past and whenever I stumble and have a rough day because of an old memory he helps me work through it and supports me and pushes me to achieve whatever I'm dreaming about. He is like a personal trampoline. Whenever I am starting to fall he is there under me ready to launch me again. He loves my daughter and she loves him. He is the perfect guy......except he is 18 years older than me. He has young looks and a young outlook on life and is very active. Most of my friends only thought he was only 10 years older than me at the most. The problem is my parents are worried that he is "too old for me and don't know how it is going to work out". I always felt age was just a number and as long as you are on the same level mentally, physically and emotionally then that was more important. We are still taking everything very slowly but we both are crazy about each other. Do we stand a chance at something long term or will the age gap just get bigger as we get older?