"Oh hi Carol, it's nice to see you again…and this must be your grandfather?"

"Ummm…no Marcy, this is Alex my new boyfriend."

Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Are you like me? Do you find it strange when you meet people who's boyfriend or girlfriend is like old enough to be their parent? I can't really get my head around this. Is it normal for people to be romantically involved with someone who is like fifteen, twenty, or even twenty five years their difference? Forget normal, is it even right? I really can't understand how people do this? What can you have in common with each other? This puzzles me? "Well we really love the same food. We just love eating out together…he of course eats through a straw, but still it's amazing."

Now yes, we've all heard the theories that men and women mature at different speeds. I do recall an awkward period where all the girls we knew were starting to become concerned with more mature issues like education, family, and relationships, while we guys were merely interested in toys, cartoons, and candy. The mid twenties were strange weren't they? In most cases, it does seem that men tend to connect with women who are three to seven years younger than them. Whether it's the guy or girl being older a separation of a few years in age is quite common really. What throws me is the extreme age difference where the gap is so wide that people can tell just by looking at the both of you. "So Michael, who is this little angel you are babysitting?"

I just can't believe there wouldn't be an imbalance in your relationship if you were involved with someone fifteen or so years different. To me the older person would always come across patronizing. Every story you would tell would be received with a "been there, done that". The younger person would seem so naïve and inexperienced. When you are at one place in your life and the other person is at completely different level…how do you relate to one another? She's interested in going out to clubs and you are closing a deal on buying a home. Eye to eye? Me thinks not. Plus, I think would be so consumed with all those creepy age equations that I would be conducting in my head. So I was graduating high school when you were in grade four??? Ewwww.

I've never really understood what a twenty four year old woman could have in common with a guy who is forty two. Or for that matter a 41 year old woman with a 25 year old guy. Now on paper these scenarios sound like a real fun weekend but are they really the proper ingredients to a long lasting relationship? To me these extreme age discrepancy relationships are often rooted in a selfish need or wish fulfillment. Let's analyze shall we:

Older guy/Younger girl

Older guys perspective:
This speaks clearly to the trophy mentality of men. This is all about ego. I am in my forties, I am losing my hair and my body isn't what it used to be but I still have a twenty seven year old hottie on my arm. I still got it.

Younger girls perspective:
This is all about the "got it together" factor. To younger women, older men appear to have their shit together (when all along they are just as dysfunctional as the rest of us jerks). It sounds clichéd but younger women love the attention of their older sugar daddies who can and will buy them anything just to keep them hanging off their arm (see older guys perspective- it's a vicious circle my friend). This is all about the money people.

Older girl/Younger guy

Older girls perspective:
This is a clear example of a woman having a mid life crisis. She feels the need to prove to herself and to others that she is still attractive and desirable. She longs to reconnect with her youth and show the world that she is still with it!

Younger guys perspective:
This is clearly just a score for a younger man. It is something to boast about and nothing else. It will help temporarily satisfy a mans desperate need to fuel his ego (but it won't fuel it for long as a older woman will NEVER fall head over heels as much as a younger woman will.)

Now I completely agree with the adage that numbers don't make you old. But experience and position in life does make people different. Very different. And by virtue of that, our wants, needs and interests may be dissimilar. Obviously you can have nothing in common with a person two years older than you as well but to me the extreme age gaps only widen that difference. Ultimately it's up to the two of individuals and as long as people are happy I suppose all is good…

But be warned…for all of you twenty something women who are starry eyed over forty something men. It may seem great now but just think what happens when you are forty. You'll be entering some of the most financially comfortable years of your life when you are ready to enjoy living and you'll be with a sixty year old man who will only want to sleep!

…but that's just my opinion.

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