This is an awesome question, Miri. Thanks so much for bringing it up.
People have always assumed I was young, which has its pros and cons. (I'm often asked if my pictures are recent--my avatar is from Halloween 2016 and my profile pic is from June 2016.)
I had a boss once who used to talk down to me and I constantly had to remind him that I was only 2 years younger than he was. Last week I had a co-worker (37) who thought I was 25, so people in a work setting often assume I'm young and inexperienced or incapable. I always feel like I have to work twice as hard to prove myself.
Because I'm Asian and both my father and Grandpa are white, people have always assumed I'm their girlfriend, which pretty much gives me hives. Because of that, I'd be very uneasy dating anyone who would be interpreted as my father. It would really have to a be a special situation.
Sometimes it comes in handy because I can find a place among almost any age range, but I'm often friends with people who are younger, for whatever reason, and they usually see me as a peer, older sister, or aunt, though sometimes I know I have to step up and speak to them as a slightly older adult. But since I don't have kids, I often feel as if I'm still a young adult myself, and have an inner child that still loves kid's toys, cartoon characters, and roller coasters.
I spent some time with my little toddler nephews a while back and they said to their parents, "Auntie Kim sure does like to play. Is she a grownup like you... or a kid like us?" I just thought that was hilarious!
It does cause a bit of chaos when it comes to dating, though. When I was a teen, the guys who hit on me were always older men starting in their 40's and going right on up to the age of having one foot (and sometimes a half) in the grave.
To be honest, it STILL feels odd when a 40-something "older"-looking man tries to flirt with me... And then I have to smack myself upside the head and remember "this" is supposed to be my exact age range.
I'm sometimes unsure of whom I'd be allowed to date, because I've often been approached by younger guys, too, and some of them have their lives more pulled together than the guys who are in my supposed age range.
I'm uncomfortable with anyone who would look like a dad, but I'm also horrified by the idea of dating someone who would be seen as my son, too. It would really depend on the person and our situation together. I would also consider his family's feelings--I couldn't date someone whose mother saw me as an evil cougar trying to prey on her son!
Now that I think about all this... Is it really any wonder I'm still single... LOL.
