Dating an older man

Dear Wendyl,

I am a 25-year-old single woman with a young son. I’ve been spending a lot of time recently with a guy who I met at work who is also single, but… he’s old. He turns 50 in July and so far I have resisted letting the relationship go further as I’m not sure if it would work out. My friends all think he is ancient but I really like him and most importantly he is great with my son. What do you think?

Keen But Worried, via email

Dear Keen But Worried,

First I need you to fast forward 30 years to where he is 80 and you are a relatively youthful and beautiful 55. Will you be happy going to bed at 7.30pm and possibly nursing him through late life illnesses? If your answer is, “it would be my pleasure” then okay, go for it. There is a rule for working out if an age difference is indecent, which is half your age plus seven for the oldest one in the relationship which comes to 32 – so you’re a bit younger than that. But I say give it a go and give your son a great father figure in the process.