In Praise of 30 Year Olds

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Great post Mark!., posted by Jeff S on Nov 12, 2003

Congrats to you, and your daughter!

Do you tell your wife that she got her smarts from your side of the family?

Not that it's easy being a step-dad, so my hats off to you. Stas and I have had had a slow start. He started calling me Dad the minute he met me (his Ukrainian father was pretty much absent in his life), but he had this impression that having an American dad meant every day was Christmas. Also, he decided that to get closer to me, he had to "replace" my daughter, so there was competition and tension there.

Now things have settled down a lot (almost a year later.)

Recently I introduced him to Hockey, and he got bit by the bug really badly. Now he comes to my games, and is asking for skates for Chirstmas. I'll be getting him his own gear. He's coming to all of my games, and talking about joining his own league.

I can see that I'll be coaching a midget team sometime soon :-)

[Michael B]

... in response to In Praise of 30 Year Olds, posted by MarkInTx on Nov 12, 2003

Every over weight 53yo AM (but I do have all my hair) deserves a 23yo hot body, because....well just because. Never mind that he only has a medium grade job, a 5yo car and enough child support payments to keep him poor for the next couple of years, we guys certainly can't accept a woman with 'baggage', now can we?. No way will our 23yo ever figure out that's in the US she's 'hot stuff', right? It's not like she's going to get a lot of better offers from guys who are younger and/or richer once we've gone to the trouble and expense of bring her over, right? Of course on the off chance that she does get one or two such offers, she'll be mature enough and commited enough to resist them, right? And when we're 70 and weak and sick, she'll only be 39, so we know she'll stick with us to the end, right?

OK, end of sarcasim, back to reality...you made a bunch of excelent points, which it would behoove the readers of all 3 boards to seriously consider before 'taking the plunge'.

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Objection, posted by Michael B on Nov 12, 2003

There is an expression in Ukraine:

"Who will bring you a glass of water when you are old?"

My mother-in-law used to tell Victoria that all of the time. She is the one who would pressure Victoria to marry anyone who came along.

She even wrote to a guy on Victoria's behalf once -- some 51 year old guy (this was when she was 28) that Victoria was not interested in at all. (...I think he was a pilot or something...) She really yelled at her mother when she found out she had sent a letter.

"Who will bring you a glass of water?" Her mother asked her.

"Not him!" She replied. "When I am old, he'll be dead!"

[ChrisNJ]

... in response to In Praise of 30 Year Olds, posted by MarkInTx on Nov 12, 2003

Great post Mark.

It's important to be realistic.

I'm 43 and would rather have a woman in her mid to late 30s lol.  We all know how bad these girls want kids.  I'd rather she had one already. I'm being honest with myself.   I'm no spring chicken.  I can't picture myself at 46 changing diapers and at 50 teaching the kid to ride a bicycle.  HELLO!!!

And I don't have Lettermans money.

[MarkInTx]

... in response to I tend to agree..., posted by ChrisNJ on Nov 12, 2003

Dealing with teenage boys when you are 62???

[mar33]

... in response to In Praise of 30 Year Olds, posted by MarkInTx on Nov 12, 2003

Mark,
   That was a very good and logical post. I think most men would argue that because we hope women are not as shallow as we are:). But I think it is easy to forget that a persons perception can change greatly once in the U.S. Especially now that she is not in survival mode.
  I have a friend who at 29 just married a 43 year old woman. Though she is attractive, and he loves her very much, I wonder what will happen in 15 years when she is lose to 60 and aging. Will he be tempted by the 30 year old women who will most likely still flirt with him?
  Sure, some of these marriages are very successful But usually the man has to be exceptional for it to survive,because a woman is happiest when she can look across the table at her husband(and vice-versa) and think "this is the best man I could wish for".
   Good luck with your marriage,
         Another Mark

[Globetrotter]

... in response to In Praise of 30 Year Olds, posted by MarkInTx on Nov 12, 2003

40's are even better!

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Re: In Praise of 30 Year Olds, posted by Globetrotter on Nov 12, 2003

When mine is in her forties...