The Line In The Sand

I've got a friend who's younger than me by a few years. And it's incredibly complicated.

On the one hand, he really cares about me. He wants to all the parts of me that are broken, we have fun, we watch movies. In itself, that's fine. I love being friends with him, and when we hang out the age gap really isn't that noticable.

But it's not that simple. He's a boy and i'm a girl, and it's well established that younger guys tend to think more of me than they should. So i've got to make extra sure that i don't send any of the wrong signals. Then there's the fact that, really, he's just a kid and he doesn't have anywhere near enough life experience to handle what's going on in my life. I shouldn't ask him to! Plus, i work in a position where i've got to look after the younger kids and can't get too close to them.

It's a struggle to keep a firm line between appropriate and inappropriate friendship. When he cares so much about me, i don't like to have to push him away. But, at the same time, i've got to keep him at an arm's length, always. I can't spend time with someone who wants to spend time with me, as a change from wanting to spend time with all the people who don't want to spend time with me. It's hard. But i've really got to try harder to keep that line clear.