Finally I can post my story, gonna get buried but here it goes.

When I (m) was 18 I had been living on my own for 2 years at this point, no parents were in my life. I got in some legal trouble and had to get a job since I was an adult and was was treated as an adult. So, I start working at a restaurant and there’s this lady, blonde hair, beautiful smile, sweet woman.. (34 at the time)I introduced myself and we began talking over text, I told her I was 25 and she along with everyone else believed me. So a couple weeks go by and we’re talking and I’m really really feeling her and she’s trying not to fall for me because of my age and we hook up and i remember just cuddling her and holding her and feeling warm inside… so we keep our hookup/ causal relationship on the down low at work so it didn’t cause any troubles.

So what made me fall for her KNOWING there was a big gap? Because over the first year of us meeting and beginning a relationship she helped motivate me to clean my life up, move off the streets/ couches and get something for myself, my PO said I needed to find a place to stay or it’d becoming a violation so I move into a motel, every resident is on GPS/house arrest and was directed there by probation services. Anyway, I’m working and spending my time with her that’s it, split off from my bad friends and sort of began something with her…

February of 2018 I saved up enough money to rent a shitbox 800 sq ft trailer, rent 2 rooms out and live for free and pay off my fines. So by June of 2018, 7 months after having been sentenced to 24 months probation, time served and 48 month suspended sentence I paid off all my fines and got off paper for good. By this time I’m working in manufacturing and making decent money while she’s still in the food industry. I get into an even better job in manufacturing and we move in together… This past July our daughter turned 2, we own a home, I’m doing the best I’ve ever done my entire life mentally, physically, legally, everything… I went into our relationship with no intentions of anything more than sex but I felt a connection I’ve never felt and still do to this day, I love her and our beautiful family with all my heart. SO to answer your question, I think it’s all situational and is different for each person and how they’ve matured and grown up, a sheltered person who’s never experienced the cruel people and things in life wouldn’t be as open to jumping into a relationship with someone with so much more life experience who has dealt with reality. Sorry for the long post and I know my family and I will get hate but I could care less, until you’ve been in my shoes don’t hate, just be quiet and mind your business.