Hello! I am new here, using a throwaway account. I’m 34(f), and have a massive crush on/desire for a (19yo) guy I work with. He says he likes me back, that he “loves girls like me” but he’s still a little weirded out by the age gap, because his mom is only a few years older than I am.

I can’t talk about it to anyone I know, because the guy and I are really good friends anyway and everyone would know who it was even if I tried to keep it on the DL. My family has asked me if I like this guy, but I felt I had to lie, because they’ve made fun of my apparent attraction to younger men in the past (my ex husband was 7y younger than I was at the time).

I guess what I’m asking is if this is normal, to fall in love with someone so much younger than me, or if it would be frowned on? I don’t have any open “cougars” that I know in my real life to talk to, and I’m feeling really torn and upset about the situation. If anyone could help out in some way, some words of wisdom from either direction would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!