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Kanchan

Kanchan Rai  |663 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Apr 26, 2026

Kanchan Rai has 10 years of experience in therapy, nurturing soft skills and leadership coaching. She is the founder of the Let Us Talk Foundation, which offers mindfulness workshops to help people stay emotionally and mentally healthy.
Rai has a degree in leadership development and customer centricity from Harvard Business School, Boston. She is an internationally certified coach from the International Coaching Federation, a global organisation in professional coaching.... more
Asked by Anonymous - Mar 19, 2026Hindi
Relationship

I am in love with a 42 yr old woman. She is a divorcee with a teenage daughter. We plan to get married by the end of this year. The one disagreement we have is about kids. She feels she is too old to have another kid. How do I convince her that age has nothing to do if you are healthy and fit to be a parent?

Ans: This is not a topic where one partner “wins” the argument. Having a child, especially at 42, is not just about willingness—it’s about her body, her health, her energy, and her life stage. Age does matter medically and practically. Pregnancy at 42 carries higher risks, and even if someone is fit, it is still a more demanding journey physically and emotionally.
So if she is saying she doesn’t want a child, she is not being negative—she is being realistic and self-aware.
Now the real question is not “how do I convince her,” but
can you accept her decision if it doesn’t change?
Because this is a fundamental life choice. If you want a child strongly and she does not, this difference won’t disappear after marriage—it will grow.
Instead of convincing, have a mature conversation:
Tell her honestly why having a child matters to you—not as pressure, but as a life desire. Then listen to her reasons fully—without trying to counter them. Ask her what she fears, what she has already considered, and what her limits are.
There are also middle paths you can explore together—like medical consultation to understand real risks, or even alternatives like adoption. But these should come from mutual agreement, not persuasion.
Love is not about changing someone on such a fundamental decision.
It is about asking: can we build a life together as we are?
If you can accept a future without a child with her, then move forward.
If you cannot, it’s better to face that truth now rather than after marriage.

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Anu

Anu Krishna  |1796 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Jan 08, 2024

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Relationship
Hi. I am 47 year old widower and since last one year I am in love with 20 year old girl. We both are from different states, culture and even our eating habits are. She loves my caring nature and I supported her financially without expecting anything (physical relation). Now we both are serious about marriage. Her parents were initially raised concern about age difference but finally they are agree. But I am bit confused if this much big gap in age will harm our married life. She may realise it after some years. Major problem I see in future when we will think about having child..i am confused.. please advice
Ans: Dear Shailesh,
Yes, the age gap might most likely bother her in a few years when she sees you growing older when she finds a lot of younger men around.
You did mention that her parents are concerned about this alliance BUT what about the girl? What does she think of marriage with you? Since she is young, has she had the time to process if the care that you were showering her with is not actually what she has missed from her parents especially her father? You need to be very careful of this one because she could be projecting her lack of love from her parents onto you and then seek it from you!
And you are right to be concerned about children as well...when you are 60 and wanting to slow down, you might still need to push yourself till the child is at least 20...Do the Math...
Do make the girl aware of these concerns that you have and let her decide for herself independently...You will agree that you cannot become a caring figure in her life rather than a husband.

All the best!

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