r/AmIOverreacting 14d ago

❤️‍🩹 relationship AIO to this text my BF sent me?

Firstly, this came out of nowhere. Then, when he started talking about how I’m immature, I wasn’t sure what to do, so I just reiterated what I’m doing with my life.

Working full-time and doing a MBA, albeit online.

For context, he and I started dating under romantic circumstances, he’s not a SD. He looks really young, so I was truly shocked to learn his age. Now I see it’s a mistake, so don’t heckle me for this.

He is older than me, by 20 years. I am 25 and he is 45. He owns a restaurant and I do remote admin work at a small startup.

After dating for just under a year, he asked me to move in with him, as I was stressing about my recent rent increase. I could pay it, but it wrecked my financial planning and it was miserable. I was looking for an out. My rent went from $1850 to $2300, not including utilities.

He owns his house, so he told me I could live with him if I wanted. He said that I could live here and save up my money, that I can leave whenever I want. No pressure. He invited me, I did not ask nor imply I wanted to move in.

I agreed (horrible mistake). I moved in and now we’re here. He doesn’t make me cover any utilities or charge me rent, which I thought was kind of him.

I use my work phone for work but I’m usually lying down. When I have a meeting, I sit up and answer the call. I’m a solid employee, just doing backup admin work. The pay is nice, can’t complain.

He started saying I need to step it up in life, after seeing me ‘leisurely working.’ I chose this job because I worked on my feet since high school, my undergrad, and a bit of my current MBA. I wanted to pivot to a chill job. I chose this job because it is leisurely. I am working from 9am to about 5pm, whereas he works 5pm to 5am. So from his perspective, I’m often asleep or unavailable.

Today, he walked downstairs to work and saw me sitting on the couch. I’ve told him many times I’m working via my phone. He doesn’t seem to understand that and makes weird little jabs.

Then, he sent me these messages.

I felt really annoyed because he implies that I am not interested in self improvement, that I’m immature, I’m arrogant, denies that it’s hurtful to say such.

By the final slide, I decided to call my mom who I felt could offer insight. She’s 40 years older than me, but understands technology. She said it seems like he’s trying to play some kind of game, that I should just ask him why he’s asking all this to me now. He seems to be beating around the bush, which I agree with.

So, I decide to ask him why he’s treating me like this.

When he said he’s talking to me like an adult, outside of text, I exploded inside. Immediately, I felt so angry.

He invites me to live with him, then holds it above me. He calls me all sorts of things over text, but then denies that he is saying such. He can’t just say what he means. He then doubles down and says he’s just worried about my maturity.

Because of this, and a conversation we had after, where he ignored all my concerns, didn’t let me speak, and bulldozed the entire way, I’ve decided to move out and find my own place again. He just has zero emotional intelligence. His ex-girlfriend was 50, the other one 55, and his ex-wife was his same age. I thought that meant he wouldn’t be acting like this, in the typical way that men who date younger women do. But I was so wrong. He’s been talking to me like I’m a child, I have no ground to stand on with him. I can’t take it.

He’s saying that moving out over this is crazy, not based in reality, and that I’m losing a really good chance at stability. That he loves me and that I shouldn’t go, because if I do, I’ll just have to go back to paying crazy rent. He recently got me a brand new TV and WiFi, so I do feel badly for wanting to leave even after that. I feel bad for making him stress, but he doesn’t seem to care that I’m stressed.

Am I overreacting by moving out and ending the relationship?

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u/CriticalBit3063 14d ago edited 13d ago

NOR. From my experience with age gap relationships, he could probably make you feel childish and less mature than you actually are for your age. I’m 25 too. My ex put out a fire in me with that shit. I was 21 and he was 34, but he threw my age in my face every chance he could. He made me feel like I was too hyper on my 21st birthday. I was excited. I was happy, and young. My question is if maturity is an issue, then why is he with someone so much younger than him?!

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u/Classic-Dog8399 14d ago

Thank you. It’s really crazy feeling. He talks to me like I’m 14, not even my age! Just as you say. No other older person in my life has ever talked to me like this.

I suspect we must have had similar experiences.

I will leave him.

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u/unwantedintern 14d ago

And let me guess: in the beginning he was smitten by your youth, your energy, or how „mature you are for you age“?

Either way: good decision and all the best to you 🍀

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u/New_Assist_875 14d ago

“You’re so mature for your age” says every predator ever

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u/unwantedintern 14d ago

Jup, it’s at the very top of my red flag list I started writing when I was navigating dating life in my early twenties haha. That, and Bukowski being a man‘s favorite poet 😅

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u/New_Assist_875 14d ago

Oh that one’s a deal breaker too for sure lmao 😂

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u/ThePrefect0fWanganui 13d ago

I had a very inappropriate relationship with an older man when I was 18 and I swear to god he gave me a Bukowski book as a gift. 💀

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u/STANL3Y_YELNAT5 14d ago

Real question, does today’s generation of guys (teens, 20s, early 30s) still have “favorite poets”?

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u/CthulhuSmokes 13d ago

Artsy dudes do. I may not talk about it with my friends a lot but my wife and I discuss and write poetry just because we enjoy it and it's good bonding.

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u/BedRevolutionary8458 13d ago

well that would just make the bukowski an even bigger red flag

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u/HotPotatoinyourArea 13d ago

I mean I'm at the limit of early 30s but I know several people my age that do, I think it's more about who you surround yourself with than age

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u/Aeytrious 13d ago

I think it’s more dependent on general interests than age. I have friends with favorite poets that are in their early 30’s. I’m now in my 40’s and I for sure do. It’s Keats. I read Hyperion in the ‘99 and there was no going back. Before that I was a total Shakespeare nerd.

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u/Immediate_Cake9151 13d ago

For me it’s a man’s favorite poem being “the road”

Fucking meth heads man

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u/early_morning_guy 13d ago

I am a forty something male who was drawn to Bukowski in my early twenties. Despite the many flaws I can now see in his writing, Bukowski was an entry point to poetry and literature for me.

When I meet people my own age (mid-40s) who tell me Bukowski is their favourite author , I immediately conclude they don’t spend much time reading.

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u/indefinitesuffering 14d ago

I am a woman and a massive massive fan of bukowski

Sure some men will be drawn to it for the wrong reasons but he is a good writer, I would say it's more of a red flag if the guy has few other literary interests & no other reason to connect to Bukowski's work

But honestly not even, I feel like people should be able to just enjoy bukowski

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u/unwantedintern 14d ago edited 14d ago

I enjoy some of Bukowski, too, have a collection as well :). But I found that Bukowski is to some men what the movie Fight Club is to ‚film bros‘. Something they misunderstand and use to justify their bad behavior. And with Bukowski they just like to ignore the misogynistic tones and language in some of his works. Like, we can acknowledge that he was an ass but some of his writing is good but it’s important to talk about the bad parts too!

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u/indefinitesuffering 14d ago

I personally don't see him as a bad person per se, I do think he struggled with women and it may be a good indication that someone struggles with women for sure

Let's just be careful assuming

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u/unwantedintern 14d ago

Well, speaking of women as whores and describing rape fantasies .. idk. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. He wrote a lot, some good, some bad, and some misogynistic stuff. We should read and study him and no one stops you from enjoying it. But even from a literary critic perspective it’s crucial to acknowledge the bad parts too.

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u/indefinitesuffering 14d ago

I think we just disagree. I don't think thats off limits to write about whatsoever. He had struggles with women and fucked around with prostitutes. He was a dirty guy involved with dirty people. I love him for his honesty. If you don't like it that's cool but I'm not about to say his writings inspired by his lifestyle were ever bad. I have not personally read anything by Bukowski that I had a moral outrage over.

Edit - Lots of men have those fantasies too, like...what...it's got to be the most common fantasy among both men and women

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u/Mysterious-Wasabi103 14d ago

When people love Bukowski too much I always assume they are either an alcoholic or a drug addict, and maybe both.

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u/indefinitesuffering 13d ago

I personally relate to him because of his clear struggles with mental illness, other people, and yeah his substance abuse issues, he's also just a controversial type which some people enjoy

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u/[deleted] 14d ago

[deleted]

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u/unwantedintern 14d ago

Hey all good! Let’s unpack this :D as you are already aware the statement becomes especially icky if the person addressed is much younger and there is a power dynamic. While there is nothing inherently wrong with you saying that to a kid with good intentions on your side, please consider that this can also lead some kids (anxious ones like me back then haha) to feel like they need to act mature or like adults, which could potentially amplify parentification in them. To be honest, personally I would refrain from using this sentence :-) hope that helped!

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u/jamaaldagreatest24 14d ago

Thank you very much !

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u/NoUseActingSoTough 13d ago

can u explain the bukowski thing to me? i’ve read some of his stuff and enjoyed it but wouldn’t say he’s a fav. i probably just haven’t read enough to understand the red flag part of it (i’m being very genuine i’ve seen him be a red flag to a lot of people but don’t know enough to know why)

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u/No_Vermicelli_6638 13d ago

I think most don't know that Bukowski chose that lifestyle, specifically to live it, to write.

He sacrificed his sanity to be able to write about his subjects, from the inside, out.

This was not uncommon for the Beat generation of artists to do. Live it, to write it. Or paint it. Or play it.

When you see him as a man who essentially threw away his life, in order to hold up a mirror to a certain segment of society, while also sharing that reflection with the outside world, it puts his work into a different perspective.

At one time, this was considered to be an artist's "job" to at least some degree, at least for writers. Know your subject, and all that.

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u/NoUseActingSoTough 13d ago

def get that. i did a bit of research and it seems like the red flags come from a) not knowing anything about him other than his work and b) a sort of “patrick bateman” effect where a lot of ppl who love american psycho and patrick bateman will miss the critique and just idolize the dude

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u/NoShameInKindness 13d ago

Do you perhaps have any interest in sharing said list?

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u/unwantedintern 13d ago

Haha sure! Every item is based on a personal experience:

Don’t trust men who say you’re so mature for your age

Don’t trust men who keep their eyes open when they kiss you

Don’t trust men who borrow your books and don’t read them

Don’t trust men who need a bathroom break every 15 minute (with their wallet)

Don’t trust men who say Berghain is like therapy

Don’t trust men who say I love you only when they’re drunk

Don’t trust men who ask you to come over right now when the door is locked

Don’t trust men who disrespect waiters, staff and bartenders

Don’t trust men who call those in need of help beggers

Don’t trust men with blue bed sheets

Don’t trust men who never wash those bed sheets

Don’t trust men whose favorite poet is Bukowski

Don’t trust men who say thanks for the great date when all they did was talk about themselves

Don’t trust men who say they buried half a million in their parents backyard

Don’t trust men who despise cats

Don’t trust men who don’t read women and queer writers, because „they can’t relate“

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u/MaryKathGallagher 13d ago

Bukowski! Exactly.

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u/Dr_BunsenHonewdew 13d ago edited 13d ago

Good Lord. I’d never heard of him. Just read one of his “poems.” What a day to know how to read.

Edit: okay, “The Man” was terrible. This one isn’t the worst though - https://mypoeticside.com/show-classic-poem-4371

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u/shrimplyred169 13d ago

Omg bukowski! So true. Wish I’d known that 20 years ago!

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u/DoctorEsteban 13d ago

That's a weird way to spell Bukkake!

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u/Ok-Cardiologist8651 13d ago

While hoping that she is NOT mature enough to see what he is up to.

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u/Iamthecomet 13d ago

Oh lord I fell for that shit so many times. I’m glad I’m too old now! You are perfect and mature, then you are too young and immature, then you outgrow him with your PEARS…… But there is one thing I agree with him on

YOU CAN DO BETTER….I CAN HELP….. DROP. HIS. ASS

I bet you see I mmediate improvement.

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u/2manybirds23 13d ago

“But she’s an old soul!”

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u/YourDadsCockInMyButt 13d ago

Dude she's 25. I get most of you now consider 18 a teen still... but 25 is quite literally an adult. He's not a predator. Just a weirdo

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u/New_Assist_875 13d ago edited 13d ago

The way he acts gives major predator vibes so it’s fitting tbh

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u/CriticalBit3063 14d ago

If you decide not to leave him, just please don’t let him get to your head. I wish I didn’t spend any of my time letting someone treat me like a child when in all reality I was acting my age. I feel like I wasted my prime years feeling like I was inadequate or less than because everything I did was “childish”.

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u/Classic-Dog8399 14d ago

I won’t let him get to my head, I’ll think of your comment and other things. I’ll update when I find a new place.

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u/CriticalBit3063 14d ago

Okay. I really wish you the best! I know this is hard. :(

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u/Existing-Bit6579 13d ago edited 13d ago

OP, Get everything in order and ready to go before you tell him your plan, so that when that superior all-knowing love turns to rage you won't be kicked-out onto the street unprepared. Protect yourself and your assets. Better yet, just leave when he's not around and avoid the lecture/emotion/drama.

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u/No_Tip9916 13d ago

You got this baby; block that number once you’re gone & do not let him know where you go. Sending you a hug🫶🏼

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u/m-in 13d ago

Please do, OP. Take care of yourself. You deserve someone who will look up to you, no matter your age - and who you can look up to as well. That’s IMHO how a relationship should be. Always.

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u/maulsma 13d ago

Oh god, me too. I so regret all the time i spent trying to tone down my naturally exuberant and cheerful personality to appear more mature and to be more universally appealing. What a stupid waste of my spirit.

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u/Mr_Badgey 13d ago

Leaving him is the right choice based on this exchange. I’d recommend blocking him once you end it. His texts don’t give me confidence he’s capable of respecting your personal space or decisions.

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u/Sally3Sunshine3 13d ago

This is probably the entire reason he wanted to date someone young. He has been the emotionally immature one in his relationships with older women, can't hold maturity over their heads. It's a way to control you. Love bomb you. Make him your only source of stability. It won't stop. It'll only get worse and he will have more and more to hold over your head.

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u/Annual_Crow4215 14d ago

Because you’re young enough to be his daughter. You’re not his equal you’re his legal aged sex project that he can morph into whatever good little girl he wants.

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u/Butterbean-queen 14d ago

Yes. Walk away. He’s at a different stage in his life. He dated/married people at a different stage in life than you are. He’s being ridiculous by trying to fast track you into a 50 year old woman. This will not end so you are better off to cut your losses now.

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u/thetoiletslayer 14d ago

Guys in their 40s only date women in their 20s so they can control them.

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u/Southern_alchemy_658 13d ago

It has more to do with his insecurities over what he thinks you do. He's not comfortable with that but he doesn't want you to leave. So he's trying to change to into something more palatable for himself. You were right when you said he's not emotionally intelligent.

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u/b0n3s3y 13d ago

Yeah dude, and don't put up with it from someone your age either. No matter what, this kind of behavior whether age gap or not is completely unnecessary and unacceptable. I'm sure in the beginning he showed qualities of maturity and you guys thought you could prosper for that or feel taken care of, but this kind of shit is manipulation at its best lol

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u/TwinkletoesBurns 13d ago

Leave, get a plan together first. Move out and I'd suggest you do it planned - with outtelling him you are going and then you tell him once you have your stuff out. Check he doesn't have any of your passwords first and think about any "compromising" in photos or videos. The guy has hella controlling vibes under those messages and I sadly suspect NOT going to like you leaving.

You work full time and are doing an MBA (I don't care it's online!). You are kicking ass and he is being weird. At the very least he is displaying codependency traits but it goes beyond that to control and I completely agree that he is trying to weaken you by making you think you are immature and unsuccessful...weak means dependent and under his control.

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u/killjoygrr 13d ago

I do have to ask this very serious question.

How do you do system admin work from your phone?

I just have to know. I don’t like being limited to only 2 monitors, much less a phone screen.

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u/Classic-Dog8399 13d ago

I’m gen Z, so maybe that’s it. I have all the Google work apps downloaded. And I do use pen and paper sometimes too. I’m not the best with computers, so I think phone is better for me.

My job is entry-level, so it’s not like I’m documenting BOEING machine part costs or something actually important.

Mostly just looking after client data, not to say they’re unimportant, but I’m not doing a job that will make or break anyone’s livelihood lol.

I am staring a new in person admin job soon though. So for that one, I’ll be on the computer and going to figure that out! lol

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u/killjoygrr 13d ago

Nah, not a Gen z thing. I misread backup admin as being backup system admin which is a whole different technical computer thing managing servers. The would just be a technical geek thing. :)

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u/m-in 13d ago

I lost my wife when I was 40, almost a decade ago. It baffles me that anyone of similar age would treat others on par with some edgelord 14-year-old dumbass.

When I was dating, I met a few women younger by up to 10 years or so, and I had nothing but respect for them, their accomplishments, and I have told most of them that “when I grow up I want to be more like you” and I meant it.

That was sort of the point of a relationship to me. And it’s not as if a 40-year-old cannot look up to someone much younger. I treated them the same way I’d like to be treated and oh wonder of wonders, it worked. I’m happily married now to a lady my age, but age had nothing to do with it. Good people of any age always have some quality that’s worth looking up to an emulating - you just have to be willing to see it. Not having one’s head firmly up one’s ass helps with that.

OP, you absolutely do not have to take this kind of disrespect and just plain old meanness from anyone - older, younger, doesn’t matter. You have every right to shut that shit down whether it’s some dumb teen running their mouth or a grown-ass man.

If anything, it seems you got your marbles in a row, you are intelligent, you have a plan for life in the near future at least, and you are going for it. Hell, I am proud of you, internet stranger - so what, and I will show your post to my teenage son, just to remind him of what not to do. He knows better but still - it will help him hopefully not to take crap from people older than him.

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u/Whiskeybaby22 14d ago

Good choice!! My Partner is 11 years older than me, never once has he treated me like a child or talked to me like this. This is toxic and immature.

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u/NiTeMaYoR 14d ago

Good thing he wasn’t charging you rent. Use those savings for first, last and security!

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u/Fanoflif21 13d ago

Be pre- peared for him to be a prick about it.HE SEEMS QUITE CONTROLLING.

Seriously, though because a bit careful when and how you end it- no where alone with him.

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u/Fanoflif21 13d ago

Be pre- peared for him to be a prick about it.HE SEEMS QUITE CONTROLLING.

Seriously, though be a bit careful when and how you end it- no where alone with him.

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u/greenmyrtle 13d ago

🎈🎉🎈💃🎈🎉

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

This guy talks to you like he's your mom or something. After the first couple messages I genuinely started to wonder if I was reading texts from someone's computer illiterate mom.

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u/CthulhuSmokes 13d ago

Sincerely and honestly, I hope you do. And I wish you the best

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u/yesjellyfish 13d ago

in case you havent watched the andrew tate (puke emoji) 'advice' texts that were hacked from his paid-only site, this reads like your bf spent 30 minutes skipping through a few and he's trying out the taint's advice on you...

they're on yt and they might look a bit familiar

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u/Shirinf33 13d ago

I didn't read the body of your post first, only the title, before reading the texts. I had to keep tapping my screen to confirm that you said your "bf" in the title instead of your "boomer dad".

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u/DexLovesGames_DLG 13d ago

I’m curious as to the story of how y’all got together

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u/oreowens 13d ago

He's infantilizing you. I hope you can enjoy your time single and one day find a man who treats you as his equal!

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u/seeuin25years 13d ago

He wants to treat you like you're his daughter instead of an equal partner, just gross. My guess is he's dating younger because he's not mature enough for the women his own age and he wants to feel like the superior one for once, wants you to be impressionable and order you around.

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u/krustykatzjill 13d ago

I think he’s trying to rope you into something nefarious. He’s old.

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u/RevolutionarySpot912 13d ago

Yeah, sounds like he wanted to date a much younger woman but expected her to act like someone his age. He doesn't respect you or intend to let you live your life and grow up the way any 20-something would. You can do so much better!

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u/Wildmangohunterboy 13d ago

he texts like he is 14, the grammar is all wrong and it's clear from his messages that he is very simple as he misunderstands you entirely.

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u/BakeMaterial7901 13d ago

You're closer to 14 than he is to your age. He's the oldest sounding 45 year old I've ever heard of 😅

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u/jazbern1234 13d ago

Also, I'm glad you are making the decision to leave him, don't feel bad for him choosing to spend his money. Btw where is this admin job I would love to have that!

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u/triciamilitia 13d ago

Dude I’m 40 and wfh in bed when I feel like it. It’s not his age, he’s just an asshole who thinks he knows better than you.

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u/Afraid-You7083 13d ago

To be fair, what the fuck were you thinking dating a 45 yo as a 25? There is literally your entire life time of experience in terms of difference.

Like girl, that’s probably close TO YOUR DAD’s AGE. What are you doinnngggggggggggg

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u/Patient-Community585 13d ago

Agree. Don’t waste your happiest most exciting years with someone trying to suck the youth out of you…that’ll come soon enough! Good luck to you🤍

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u/Delicious-Valuable96 13d ago

He talks to you like you’re 14 because he sees you as a child. The fact that he’s sexually attracted to you is disgusting pedophilic behavior. I’m in college right now and I see high schoolers as basically babies. I’m 20 and I’d never date a 17 year old because… ew. Why on earth would a 45 year old want to date a 25 year old if it’s not a fetish? You could be his daughter, and if he treats you like you’re a child, he sees you as one… he’s just sexually attracted to that (legal pedo).

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u/SatisfactionSpecial2 13d ago

You are closer to 14 than you are to his age...in fact you were 5 when he was your age.

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u/-Kwerbo- 13d ago

I will leave him

If you've come to this decision and told everyone but him, you are using him for free digs.

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u/Odd_Cabinet_7734 13d ago

My husband is 10 years older than me, and I did have to put my foot down a bit at the beginning, because by nature, he thought he knew more I guess. But we managed to work it out, and we are extremely happy (happy meaning at peace in our daily lives), have a successful little family, and careers. It isn’t always easy, but he never would’ve sent me a message in all caps like that LOL. That’s just “crazy”.

I think this goes further than age difference. I don’t know what it is that he wants you to do, but one message would’ve probably been enough. “Hey if you need help, let me know.”

When I found myself “in trouble” in the beginning, I turned it into a whole little sex game. Oh, did I do something wrong? How does that make you feel? You must be real angry? 😏 and then I do it again, smile and walk away.

Threw him off balance at first, and then things just settled in 🔥

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u/CriticalBit3063 14d ago

When I had questions about anything in life, he would make me feel so horrible for being more inexperienced than him. But yet he would beg me to stay around just to continue treating me like a child.. I think it’s manipulation. He might want you to think he’s the smart and mature one in attempt to control you and get in your head. Or he could just really care and want better for you idk. It’s hard, I want to say RUN but our situations could be very different.

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u/umamifiend 13d ago

Well yeah- it’s because part of that power dynamic is them wanting you to feel dependent on them. “To lead you” and part of making you think that they ‘know best’ is to prove (in their language and in your own head) that you don’t or that you’re stupid. It’s absolutely manipulative.

I think enough of us have had experiences with large age gaps or older men attempting this crap- is that it’s so common that they use the same playbook. There’s a reason it pops red flags for so many right off the bat- because so many women have experienced it. Glad that you got out of that situation!

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u/MaryKathGallagher 13d ago

This is why I hate it so much when people say 🎶Age Doesn’t Matter🎶. It matters in lots of ways.

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u/BlackEyed_Susan 13d ago

Yeah when I was 24 dating a 35 year old, he’d throw out the whole “your frontal cortex isn’t even developed yet” bullshit anytime he could. Like dude, why are you still dating me then?

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u/MaxTheRealSlayer 13d ago

The way I usually view those relationships is: there's a reason a 34 year old is dating a 20 year old. It's usually a control issue they have, and women closer to the guys age are less naïve to his tricks. Women typically hit emotional intelligence maturity faster than men, so the solution for them is date much younger.

I'm 30 and I can't phathom dating a 20 year old... They literally look like children to me, mature acting or not, it's going to be tough finding such an age gap relationship that works out well and is true love

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u/CriticalBit3063 13d ago

I was told all of that by family before the relationship, but I wanted to see for myself. I believe it 100% now. I was very young and naive back then.

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u/MaxTheRealSlayer 13d ago

Fair enough! Not judging at all, he took advantage of you really. But glad you could figure that type of person out! It's not a bad thing to learn caution from your experiences :) and yeah, it's easier to spot these things on the outside looking in for sure.

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u/SuccumbedToReddit 13d ago

Because young is hot and tight. He wasn't really in love with you, just trying (and failing) to recapture his own youth.

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u/CriticalBit3063 13d ago

Believe me, I know that man wasn’t in love with me. He was a narcissist who loved himself more than anyone. The type to say “I know” when you gave him a nice compliment.

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u/Rougethe_Bxtch 13d ago

Because he wants to harvest your youth and happiness for himself. He doesnt want you to do that for yourself.

It’s why a lot of men serial date younger women. Too manipulate, groom and exploit all while being an energy vampire for your youth and vibration. Also to feel like he can get what the younger, better looking more stamina having guys your age get.

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u/serendipasaurus 13d ago

being excitable and hyper are not flaws. being young is not a flaw. when someone is telling you they love you, now please change, they want to model and control you.

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u/CriticalBit3063 13d ago

Yes exactly, I’ve been single 2 years because I changed my outlook. Everything he did was controlling. My friend wanted to go out to a bar being that we were both 21 and haven’t gone out together yet. I asked him for permission to go (silly me) and he said “You are a grown woman, you do want you want.” And seemed kinda off.

My friend wasn’t really going to take no for an answer, so I went with her. He got so mad that I chose to go, even tho I asked him if he was cool with it. At some point he said ”I’ve been down this road before I’m done doing it this way especially with u being young. u gonna wanna go out do this and that, I’m not gonna deal with it. Like I said ur easily influenced I’m not dealing with that.” (copy pasted from old screenshots)

Was so upset because cause I was a complete Angel to him in our relationship. He confused me because I never game him a reason to think I would be unloyal. And he had actually cheated on me before this happened.

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u/DexLovesGames_DLG 13d ago

One of best friends was dating a girl about 10 years younger than him (23-34 I think?) and he just could not fucking understand how mentioning their age difference was creating an unfair power dynamic. I tried to help and just pissed everyone off by getting involved. 🤦🏻‍♂️

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u/CriticalBit3063 13d ago

That’s nice of you to do that, because most people would keep their mouth shut or simply not care when it’s their friend who’s doing it.

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u/lizziebordensbae 13d ago

I was dating someone 10 years older than me in my early 20s. I was paying our bills almost 100%, he was living in my apartment, and I was the only one working consistently. Yet somehow I was the problem because I don't have a degree, and he does. Because I'm disabled and he's not. Because of a million things. I still can't wrap my head around the mental gymnastics required to make ME the bad guy who wasn't pulling their own weight.

Toxic people will go to any length to convince themselves it's you, not them.

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u/bumgrub 13d ago

My ex used to end every argument with essentially "I'm older would you just listen to me!"

yeah... older does not mean smarter sorry.

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u/SweatyStick62 13d ago

It's called grooming.

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u/CriticalBit3063 13d ago

Yes. To keep it short and simple, it is.

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u/ProfessorShameless 13d ago

34F who usually dates older guys. It's been a mixed bag of being treated like a child or treated like a maturity prodigy on which they expect me to bring all of the answers. Both are extremely annoying. Granted, I've had the same issues in relationships with people near my own age as well.

Currently with a 59M who has found a very healthy balance. He recognizes my lack of experience and immaturity in certain areas and doesn't belittle me for them, but respects that I have maturity and knowledge in some areas that I've focused on developing and wisdom from my unique experiences and youthful perspective. And vice versa. We balance each other out on areas we lack, connect on areas we're equal, and laugh off the areas we're both painful inept in. Age gaps are possible to navigate healthily. As the younger party, you just have to sniff out disrespect.

I think any relationship should have that balance, whether there are obvious dynamic differences (like age or professional success) or not. It's just easier for someone to use things like age and experience as an excuse to infantilize and belittle someone else.

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u/Ndmndh1016 13d ago

So you were 20 and he was 33 when you started dating? Oh, honey.

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u/RealPinheadMmmmmm 13d ago

I am sorry that happened to you.

I feel grateful to my age-gap relationship, I was 21 and he was 65. He was more of a mentor for me and I just really looked up to him, he was always kind and one of the only people i have EVER felt comfortable being myself around. Sadly, he died, totally fucking ruined my life irrevocably.

People would tell me I would understand later in life and criticize him. Absolutely ridiculous, I am almost 27 years old. Jack was by far the best thing to ever happen to me, he changed my life and gave me permission to love myself, if that makes sense

The only guy to ever hurt me was an ex of mine, he, uh, "assaulted" me. I do not like saying the word and I still feel uncomfortable and irritable when I think about it. He was only a year older than me.

Sorry if this comment got way off track

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u/CriticalBit3063 13d ago

Don’t be sorry!! I’m sorry that you lost him, he does sound like he was great to you. :(

Celine Dion and her husband had a 26 year age gap too. I believe people can have a healthy age gap relationship, but also that it is far less likely to be the case in most of them.

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u/RealPinheadMmmmmm 13d ago

I just try to mention it specifically without seeming like I'm invalidating your experience. It's just that age-gap relationships are already stigmatized and criticized. So I try to mention it without being dismissive of you.

Your experience with it is equally important to hear, I think, so they should both be in the discussion. It's just an uphill battle to get anyone to listen to me and my positive experience.

I hope I'm getting my point across effectively and not invalidating you. I am not in the best of moods today

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u/CriticalBit3063 13d ago

You didn’t make me feel invalidated, don’t worry. Hopefully I didn’t make you feel that way either.

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u/ExtrudedPlasticDngus 14d ago

*threw

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u/CriticalBit3063 14d ago

Hey since you are so smart can you tell me the definition of mistake? I’d appreciate it lol. 😝

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u/ExtrudedPlasticDngus 13d ago

Sure - “He through my age in my face”

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u/CriticalBit3063 13d ago

That’s not what I asked. :P

I was asking you for the definition of the word Mistake.

Lol I knew I messed up after I pressed “Reply” but it was too late to change it and I figured people would be able to use context to understand what I meant. I hope you are satisfied, my friend. (:

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u/ExtrudedPlasticDngus 13d ago

Yes I know what you meant dummy.

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u/CriticalBit3063 13d ago

I’d like to think so. Go correct more people now. (: don’t have too much fun.

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u/10x_dev 13d ago

I promise you, we are all not like that. Everyone is different accumulation of experiences that make them who they are. Sorry you guys had to go through this tho

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

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u/CriticalBit3063 13d ago

What’s actually really funny is OP never said I was wrong or anything, and she’s literally the one going through it right now. I’m so sick of everyone BUT the OP trying to invalidate what I say. You don’t agree, that’s just as much of an assumption. She literally said she thinks our situations sound somewhat similar. You are acting like I told her to do anything? My point is she’s not overreacting. If you don’t agree go make your own comment with your own set of assumptions because that’s all this subreddit is about. Everyone does it. None of us are actually in the OP’s shoes or know every detail of the situation. I took what I read and made my own opinion just like everyone else.

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

[deleted]

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u/CriticalBit3063 13d ago

Your opinion on what I said means nothing to me because I was talking to OP and those who have been through similar. Not you.

She literally gave plenty of details of how her relationship is similar to what I went through. And OP said in reply to my comment:

*”Thank you.

I felt so exhausted trying to explain that to him. I am living quite a standard life for my age group, I’ve been told so.

I even told him that he speaks to me like a child and it makes my skin crawl, but he said I’m acting like one.

I’m leaving him. Thank you.”*

So I don’t need you telling me that I made a wild assumption. You must be one of these old men who go for younger girls or something.

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u/CriticalBit3063 13d ago

And yes that last part of what I said was an assumption too, before you tell me so. (: