Im dating a guy almost 20 years younger than me

Three years ago, Mike and I met at a coworker's engagement party. I knew that the guests at the party were going to be younger than me; I work as an occupational therapist at a hospital and most of the coworkers I'm closest with are the ones in their 20s and early 30s. I've always tended to get along better with people a decade or so younger than me—peg it to my being single with no kids as well as a why not attitude that led me to spend my own 20s and 30s bouncing from guy to state to job. At the party, I flirted with the handsome man making a rum and coke in the kitchen, asking if he could whip one up for me, too. He obliged, and as we clinked glasses, I guessed he was in his early 30s.

When my marriage collapsed in a cascade of discoveries about my husband, I did what many women before me have done: I fled to a place where I thought I would be able to heal and find clarity. But my elected haven wasn't a mecca for eating or praying. Instead, I chose to relocate with my two young sons to a country in turmoil, arriving on the bloodiest day in its modern history.

Men and women end up dating for a whole lot of reasons. While some date for love, others date strictly for convenience. Again, this may be because of genuine love or convenience.

When I was younger I got my heart broken by an older woman. No matter what I said, or what nice things I did for Karen, she was out of my league since I was younger. Karen was a 17 year old junior, and I was an incredibly good looking and intelligent 16 year old. This is exactly what my mom told me every time I brought her cupcakes.