My aunt, who is a fount of Daddy Issues, is married to a man who is literally her father's age. Since my aunt is 50 and her husband is 85, the "older than college age" rule would seem not to apply, but in my experience, just because you are not 22 doesn't mean you've outgrown your issues.

My first boyfriend was 39 when we met, and I was 25. The age difference wasn't a big problem -- not least because we both thought curling up on the couch with a good book was a fine way to spend an evening. We broke up because I moved out of the area. Which is kind of age related, but only because I'd just finished school and got a job outside the area.

So I'll agree that a big age difference by itself doesn't make a relationship problematic. But it depends on the people involved.

And if you insist on a big age difference in any relationship, there are probably psychological issues involved.

But college age young adults dating people old enough to be their parents gives me the impression of major issues lurking under the surface.

This is precisely why I was drawn to my husband. I had the biggest of Daddy Issues and, God bless him, the DexH helped me overcome them. That arrangement isn't necessarily doomed to perpetuate the original problem.

just because you are not 22 doesn't mean you've outgrown your issues.

This is true too.

Maybe I was just inordinately blessed.

An older friend of mine was dating a younger woman, when he went to her brother's wedding with her, he found out that he was 3 years older than her father. *shudder*

just because you are not 22 doesn't mean you've outgrown your issues.

And being with a particular person or type of person just because of whatever issues you have (mine? I must be entertained!) doesn't necessarily mean your relationship is doomed to failure!

I'll admit that a lot of the problem I have with men my age dating college-age or early 20s girls is that it increases the problem of there being basically no men my age to date. Not that I'd really want to date a dude who was into super young girls but still! It's hard not to have that kneejerk response.

I think if someone is fixated on a specific age range (i.e., much younger or much older), there's a problem. If it's that you're more in tune with a specific person much older/younger that's one thing, but if you don't even look at someone closer to your own age, you have to wonder.

Don't have much to add to the current discussion, but in "yay, me!" news, I just found out that, thanks mostly to me, Kansas has finally added something to their website that will help me and I'm hoping other legislative researchers out (chapter numbers for signed legislation). They're the last state in the country to do this, which is what I kept telling my contact there year after year as she would fax or e-mail me the list. She fought with her bosses to put it online, mostly based on what I told her and links to other states that I sent her.

I sent her a very appreciative e-mail in response to this info, and am seriously considering asking her for her boss's e-mail and forwarding it to him/her as well. This makes my job just that much easier.

Aims, can I grope you (in a purely theraputic way)?

YES! I'll call them Therapy Breasts and start writing off my bras on my taxes as a medical/business expense.

t random train of thought

Come to think of it, bras SHOULD be written off on taxes as a medical neccessity.

Come to think of it, bras SHOULD be written off on taxes as a medical neccessity.

Man, if they were I'd totally be splurging on those $70 bras that fit me perfectly.

lisa beat me to it.