Age differences…

I was speaking with my Frenchman the other night – we were sharing stories about past relationships. Seems like his 5 year relationship was his first serious relationship…and after telling me a bit about how his relationship worked – he asked me to share some information about what my experience was with “serious” relationships.

I shared with him that in my past 5 years in New York – I really hadn’t had very serious, long-term relationships. Sure, I had dated people for a year or so – but due to distance or other circumstances – they really weren’t day-to-day, get-to-know-someone experiences. SO, I had to go back in time and share with him the story of Peter. My boyfriend in college.

I explained to him that because I was in University and that he wasn’t student – much of our time was spent together over the summers or on breaks from the school calendar or when he was in the area – as he lived in New Hampshire – but most of him time during the school year he was on the road recruiting children for his camp – as he was the director of a Summer Program for boys.

Then the questions came up…if he was a director – how old was he? I told him that we had a 10 year age difference. “WHAT?!?!” was his reaction. “How old were you?” was the next question. When I revealed that I was 19-20 when we met and that he was 29-30, my Frenchman began to “criticize” the relationship – how could a 29 year old want to spend time with a 19 year old? How could my parents allow such a thing? What could we possibly have in common?

Part of me was shocked that he would be so openly against a relationship. It wasn’t as if he knew anything of what Peter and I shared – but, at the same time, as a 28-not-far-from-29, his questions were completely valid.

When is age just a number?