u/Ok_Minute8964

I (25F) have been getting to know a guy, and until today I honestly assumed he was somewhere around 30–35. I don’t know why exactly, but that’s genuinely what I thought his age was.
Today I asked him how old he was, and he hesitated before telling me he’s 43. He also has a 22-year-old son.
That honestly threw me off. I’m only three years older than his son, and now the age difference feels much more significant to me than it did when I thought he was in his 30s.
He’s clearly interested in me. He’s asked me about whether I want marriage and kids, whether I prefer a man to be a provider, etc. He told me he likes being a provider but doesn’t want to overstep a woman’s independence. He also told me that I have a more “older aura” about me.
He gave me a ticket to a $300 event recently, although he said he’d give me the ticket under one condition: that I let him take me out to lunch. So it wasn’t completely out of nowhere or anything. He’s also talked about things we’d do the next time we hang out, like going on bike rides and making music playlists together.
He also suggested that I model and said he has a modeling agency here, and encouraged me to get in front of the camera and model with him.
So I know he’s interested in me, but the thing is, I don’t really feel it.Finding out he’s 43 made me realize that I’m probably not comfortable with the age difference.
I know we’re both adults, and I’m not saying there’s anything inherently wrong with a 43-year-old dating a 25-year-old. But I feel weird about the fact that he’s only three years younger than my dad would be, and that his son is 22.
Am I in the wrong for deciding I don’t want to pursue anything romantic with him because of the age difference? Or am I overthinking this?
I feel a little guilty because he’s been nice to me and has clearly gone out of his way to spend time with me, but at the same time, I don’t think I should date someone just because they’re interested in me or have been generous toward me.
Would I be wrong to just tell him I’m not interested in pursuing things romantically?

I (25F) have been getting to know a guy, and until today I honestly assumed he was somewhere around 30–35. I don’t know why exactly, but that’s genuinely what I thought his age was.
Today I asked him how old he was, and he hesitated before telling me he’s 43. He also has a 22-year-old son.
That honestly threw me off. I’m only three years older than his son, and now the age difference feels much more significant to me than it did when I thought he was in his 30s.
He’s clearly interested in me. He’s asked me about whether I want marriage and kids, whether I prefer a man to be a provider, etc. He told me he likes being a provider but doesn’t want to overstep a woman’s independence. He also told me that I have a more “older aura” about me.
He gave me a ticket to a $300 event recently, although he said he’d give me the ticket under one condition: that I let him take me out to lunch. So it wasn’t completely out of nowhere or anything. He’s also talked about things we’d do the next time we hang out, like going on bike rides and making music playlists together.
He also suggested that I model and said he has a modeling agency here, and encouraged me to get in front of the camera and model with him.
So I know he’s interested in me, but the thing is, I don’t really feel it. Finding out he’s 43 made me realize that I’m probably not comfortable with the age difference.
I know we’re both adults, and I’m not saying there’s anything inherently wrong with a 43-year-old dating a 25-year-old. But I feel weird about the fact that he’s only three years younger than my dad would be [if applicable—remove this if not true], and that his son is 22.
Am I in the wrong for deciding I don’t want to pursue anything romantic with him because of the age difference? Or am I overthinking this?
I feel a little guilty because he’s been nice to me and has clearly gone out of his way to spend time with me, but at the same time, I don’t think I should date someone just because they’re interested in me or have been generous toward me.
Would I be wrong to just tell him I’m not interested in pursuing things romantically?