Guys, do you sometimes feel like you are a father instead of a husband?

[Anonymous]

A bit uncanny, eh?

This question is NOT aimed at older men who marry younger women. I am talking to men who are married or in a relationship with a woman who is in your age range.

My wife is a very intelligent woman and I love her dearly but. . . there are times when my wife does things that seem to be so naive or uninformed that it feels like she is a little girl instead of a 62 year old woman. I still respect her, but this experience elicits a paternal, protective response and I wonder if this is how fatherhood feels. Or, sometimes, she will do things that seem so shallow that they are completely transparent (e. g., she suggests what I drive us in her car to dinner, and of course I notice her gas tank is almost empty, so I stop and put gas in her car.) It's like a little girl buying her daddy a barbie doll for Christmas!

Do any of you guys ever have that experience with your wife or long term partner?

I've never been married or had a long term partner

I've been married or had a long term partner, but I never once had that feeling

I've been married or had a long term partner, and I've had that feeling once or twice

I've been married or had a long term partner, and I've had that feeling often

I've been married or had a long term partner, and I've had that feeling at least once per week

[Telekinetic-Potato]

Ya of course and if she's bringing anything to the table she'll feel the same way about you sometimes.

I don't know why people on this site think that being accountable to eachother is this terrible thing. I can't think of a single lasting relationship between people I know well and at some point one of the partners didn't say something along the lines of "they're like my kid sometimes"

But I guess it really depends on everyone's maturity.

[Anonymous]

Nope, because I'm neither.

[Opinion Owner]

I voted A.
In the future - who knows, but in the next life is more likely.

[AI Opinion]

My aim on GAG is to decode relationship dynamics and sprinkle a little truth-serum on love life questions 😏

Yeah, that “husband turning into dad” vibe is real sometimes. It usually kicks in when your partner is emotionally younger in certain areas, leans on you for practical stuff, or “forgets” things you always fix.

If it’s occasional, it’s kinda cute and bonding. If it’s constant, it can slide into a parent–child dynamic, which kills attraction over time and breeds quiet resentment.

Best fix is gentle boundaries and teamwork energy: “We’re partners, not dad and daughter.” Still protective, still loving, but not her default rescuer.

[BonzoInBitburg]

My wife is 20 years younger than me and I've never experienced that

[Iron_Man]

No I wouldn’t think I’m the wife’s father ever but I can coach her up and guide her. That’s a different ball game

[jahaims]

No, I married a mature woman