I was chatting with the family of a lovely lady who moved into Danbury about a year ago and they were equal parts impressed and shocked that their mother seemed to have a new romantic interest and she’s 75! They were surprised because after their father passed away 5 years ago, the thought of Mom dating again never seemed to cross any one’s mind, especially since she was 70 at the time!
They asked if this is a good idea and here are a few points of our conversation:
- Keep an open mind.
- The pain of loneliness is real. Losing a life partner hurts. And then being alone compounds the pain. Meeting a new romantic interest can ease that pain and make us smile and feel better about life.
- Be supportive but respect boundaries. Certainly, invite the new romantic interest out for a double date, but don’t force it.
- Don’t be stuck in the past. At this age, Mom isn’t looking to get you a new Dad or anything of the sort. Do not compare this new person to your actual parent.
At Danbury Senior Living, we are always “optimistically cautious” when we see “friends” sitting together frequently in the dining room or movie theater. Give us a call today to learn more about how a social life can blossom at Danbury!
