Harriette Cole: My daughter hadn’t brought home her boyfriend, and now I know why

DEAR HARRIETTE My eldest daughter is in a relationship with someone who is nearly twice her age Related Articles Harriette Cole After years his dead girlfriend still hovers over our relationship Harriette Cole How can I get my roommate to turn on the air conditioning Harriette Cole It s not that I m stingy I just don t have the money to tip Harriette Cole All my boyfriends have the same bad trait and I m tired of it Harriette Cole Should I tell this sneaky woman she s never getting her job back She is so when she shared the news with me that she was dating someone seriously I was happy for her She lives with me and I d see flowers being delivered and hear long-winded phone calls She explained me that things were serious between the two of them I petitioned if I d be meeting him soon She described me she was nervous because there are things about him that I may not like That s when she admitted that he s years old I am only So yes I find it strange that a man nearly my age finds interest in my daughter who only just finished college Her life has barely begun Needless to say I expressed my disapproval to my daughter and tried to explain why I find it inappropriate I explained that it may seem nice now because he can offer stability and seems further ahead than she is but there is no need for her to yearn for those things just yet She s still dating him and her choice has put a strain on our relationship How can I get through to her Older Man DEAR OLDER MAN Tread lightly People who feel they are in love rarely listen to criticism about their relationship That goes double for young adults and their parents Remind your daughter that you love her and you re here for her You are not wrong to have a few concerns I can also tell you that I know couples of similar age gaps who have made it work Indeed a close friend of mine married a man more than years her senior and he just passed away after more than years of marriage On the flip side I know a woman who married a man years her senior and is now basically serving as his caregiver Who knows what your daughter s fate will be DEAR HARRIETTE Thank you for the beautiful tribute to your mother You gave all your readers the gift of getting to know her just a little May we all be remembered the way you honored her in your remembrance I m putting this in my quote book along with your name and hers Have faith Keep good company Stand up for what you believe Be able to help yourself Be beautiful from the inside out I plan to share those sentiments with my family this week especially as my son graduates college and is setting off in the world Thank you for your generosity in sharing your mom with us Wishing you and your family lots of comfort in the wonderful memories you have of Doris Irene Freeland Cole Your Reader Vicki Related Articles Miss Manners Did I break certain rule with my high-end soup party Dear Abby They changed the dates of our big trip and didn t tell me about it Asking Eric I unveiled out my daughter is having a party and I m not invited Harriette Cole After years his dead girlfriend still hovers over our relationship Miss Manners She took me to an expensive restaurant and committed a crime DEAR VICKI AND ALL OF MY READERS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED CONDOLENCES Thank you for your kind words and loving sentiments We had a glorious weekend of celebration in her honor complete with several former kindergarten students now all senior citizens who shared how profoundly my mother had impacted their lives My sisters and I are buoyed by the abundance of loving patronage we continue to receive We send our love to anyone who has lost a loved one during this season The cycle of life continues with birth and death gratification and sorrow May we all find peace in rejoicing in the love that makes it realizable for us to go on even during tender times Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams You can send questions toaskharriette harriettecole com or c o Andrews McMeel Syndication Walnut St Kansas City MO