{"id":96,"date":"2025-07-11T13:56:49","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T17:56:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ovaryactive.wordpress.com\/?p=96"},"modified":"2025-07-11T13:56:49","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T17:56:49","slug":"re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/","title":{"rendered":"Re-Entering the Workforce as a Gen X\u2019er in a Gen Z World: Notes from the Oldest Person in the Office"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After years of working independently, freelancing, and generally keeping a lot of plates spinning, I recently found myself re-entering the traditional workforce. As someone squarely in the Gen X camp, I knew things would be different\u2014but I wasn\u2019t fully prepared for how<\/em> different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the moment I walked into the office and realized I was the oldest person there (by at least a decade, if not more), I felt like I\u2019d been dropped into a workplace that spoke an entirely different language. The technology, the culture, even the cadence of small talk\u2014it had all evolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Welcome to the new workforce: Microsoft Teams instead of email, pronouns in bios, \u201cvibing\u201d instead of \u201cworking well together,\u201d and a general avoidance of phone calls at all costs. This is Gen Z\u2019s world, and I\u2019m just getting reacquainted with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technology: We\u2019re Not in Outlook 2003 Anymore<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I consider myself reasonably tech-savvy. I was around for the dial-up era, I’m well-versed in creating spreadsheets and dashboards, and I\u2019ve used social media since it was called \u201csocial networking.\u201d But coming back into the workplace now? It\u2019s like stepping onto a bullet train that never stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of checking email a few times a day, everything is instant and constant. Microsoft Teams messages fly back and forth with reaction emojis, GIFs, and inside jokes I haven\u2019t quite caught onto. Project management tools run the workflow show, and if you don\u2019t update your status, it\u2019s feels like a punishable offense.. Meetings happen over Teams, even when we\u2019re sitting just down the hall, and screen sharing is the new whiteboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve learned to laugh at my learning curve\u2014especially when someone has to show me how to access my webcam or direct me the the SOP about how to submit my timecard…again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Culture Shock: What Can We Talk About?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest adjustments has been navigating modern workplace etiquette. The line between \u201cfriendly\u201d and \u201cinappropriate\u201d is much clearer now\u2014which is a good thing\u2014but it can also feel like walking a tightrope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in the day, we talked about everything from last night’s TV to weekend plans to venting about our boss. Now, casual chat is more curated. People share, but with boundaries. There\u2019s a greater awareness of mental health, identity, inclusion, and respectful language\u2014and as someone who wants<\/em> to be respectful, I find myself listening a lot more and speaking a little less while I learn the landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watercooler (do those even exist anymore?) talk has changed too. Pop culture references? If you don\u2019t know the latest TikTok trend or haven\u2019t watched whatever just dropped on Netflix, you\u2019re out of the loop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And let\u2019s talk about references<\/strong>. My nostalgic one-liners from 80’s and 90’s sitcoms or movies land like lead balloons. It\u2019s not that they\u2019re not<\/em> funny\u2014it\u2019s that no one under 30 knows what I\u2019m talking about. I’ve realized that part of being the “seasoned” one in the room means accepting that my cultural shorthand doesn\u2019t always translate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being the Oldest Person in the Room<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s something surreal about realizing you\u2019re the office elder. I\u2019ve had coworkers whose parents are my age. At first, I worried about being irrelevant, or worse, condescending. I didn\u2019t want to be the “OK Boomer” stereotype (even though I’m Gen X, we sometimes get lumped in).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But here\u2019s the thing: being the oldest in the room also has its strengths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve seen workplace cycles\u2014boom and bust, innovation and burnout. We\u2019ve worked without smartphones, and then with<\/em> smartphones, and know when to put them down. We know how to manage a crisis, communicate clearly, take initiative, and troubleshoot without spiraling. We\u2019ve got perspective, and that matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I\u2019ve learned is that Gen Z wants that knowledge\u2014but not in a lecture. They want collaboration, not hierarchy. They want flexibility, not micromanagement. And when you meet them where they are, they\u2019re sharp, kind, and incredibly creative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bridging the Gap<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve found success in asking questions instead of making assumptions. I\u2019ve learned to respect the new norms, even when they feel unfamiliar. I\u2019ve accepted that yes, meetings may start with a meme, and no, I don\u2019t need to reply to every Teams message with full punctuation (though I still do, out of habit).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More importantly, I\u2019ve learned that I don\u2019t need to pretend I\u2019m younger to fit in. I just need to be open. When I show up as myself\u2014willing to learn, contribute, and laugh at my own outdated references\u2014I get a lot more back. There\u2019s space for experience and wisdom, just as there\u2019s space for fresh ideas and disruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Thoughts: A Seat at the Table<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Re-entering the workforce in a Gen Z world can be intimidating. There are moments of doubt, of disconnect, and of wondering if you still belong. But I\u2019ve learned that there is value in being the oldest person in the office\u2014just as there\u2019s value in every generation bringing something to the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re a Gen X\u2019er making your return, don\u2019t let the fast pace or changing norms scare you off. You\u2019ve got resilience, adaptability, and a lifetime of real-world experience. And guess what? That\u2019s still incredibly relevant\u2014maybe now more than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So pull up a seat. The workplace may have changed, but you still belong here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After years of working independently, freelancing, and generally keeping a lot of plates spinning, I recently found myself re-entering the traditional workforce. As someone squarely in the Gen X camp, I knew things would be different\u2014but I wasn\u2019t fully prepared for how different. From the moment I walked into the office and realized I was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[21,24,31,32,46],"class_list":["post-96","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-financial-health","tag-gen-z","tag-life","tag-mental-health","tag-millennials","tag-writing"],"yoast_head":"\nRe-Entering the Workforce as a Gen X\u2019er in a Gen Z World: Notes from the Oldest Person in the Office -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Re-Entering the Workforce as a Gen X\u2019er in a Gen Z World: Notes from the Oldest Person in the Office -\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"After years of working independently, freelancing, and generally keeping a lot of plates spinning, I recently found myself re-entering the traditional workforce. As someone squarely in the Gen X camp, I knew things would be different\u2014but I wasn\u2019t fully prepared for how different. From the moment I walked into the office and realized I was […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-07-11T17:56:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"MAPEASLEY\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"MAPEASLEY\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"MAPEASLEY\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/#\/schema\/person\/2540569a32e03f0e54ec1290425bd138\"},\"headline\":\"Re-Entering the Workforce as a Gen X\u2019er in a Gen Z World: Notes from the Oldest Person in the Office\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-07-11T17:56:49+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/\"},\"wordCount\":951,\"commentCount\":0,\"keywords\":[\"gen-z\",\"life\",\"Mental Health\",\"millennials\",\"writing\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Career Stuff\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/\",\"name\":\"Re-Entering the Workforce as a Gen X\u2019er in a Gen Z World: Notes from the Oldest Person in the Office -\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-07-11T17:56:49+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/#\/schema\/person\/2540569a32e03f0e54ec1290425bd138\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Re-Entering the Workforce as a Gen X\u2019er in a Gen Z World: Notes from the Oldest Person in the Office\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/\",\"name\":\"\",\"description\":\"Hormones, humor, and a whole lot of drama\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/#\/schema\/person\/2540569a32e03f0e54ec1290425bd138\",\"name\":\"MAPEASLEY\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/88b7548a570fbd7f819ac16c99d1fa0eef751e041fdbe0973b61f5b3362a40cf?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/88b7548a570fbd7f819ac16c99d1fa0eef751e041fdbe0973b61f5b3362a40cf?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/88b7548a570fbd7f819ac16c99d1fa0eef751e041fdbe0973b61f5b3362a40cf?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"MAPEASLEY\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/author\/mapeasley\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Re-Entering the Workforce as a Gen X\u2019er in a Gen Z World: Notes from the Oldest Person in the Office -","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Re-Entering the Workforce as a Gen X\u2019er in a Gen Z World: Notes from the Oldest Person in the Office -","og_description":"After years of working independently, freelancing, and generally keeping a lot of plates spinning, I recently found myself re-entering the traditional workforce. As someone squarely in the Gen X camp, I knew things would be different\u2014but I wasn\u2019t fully prepared for how different. From the moment I walked into the office and realized I was […]","og_url":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/","article_published_time":"2025-07-11T17:56:49+00:00","author":"MAPEASLEY","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"MAPEASLEY","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/"},"author":{"name":"MAPEASLEY","@id":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/#\/schema\/person\/2540569a32e03f0e54ec1290425bd138"},"headline":"Re-Entering the Workforce as a Gen X\u2019er in a Gen Z World: Notes from the Oldest Person in the Office","datePublished":"2025-07-11T17:56:49+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/"},"wordCount":951,"commentCount":0,"keywords":["gen-z","life","Mental Health","millennials","writing"],"articleSection":["Career Stuff"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/","url":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/","name":"Re-Entering the Workforce as a Gen X\u2019er in a Gen Z World: Notes from the Oldest Person in the Office -","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/#website"},"datePublished":"2025-07-11T17:56:49+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/#\/schema\/person\/2540569a32e03f0e54ec1290425bd138"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/re-entering-the-workforce-as-a-gen-xer-in-a-gen-z-world-notes-from-the-oldest-person-in-the-office\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Re-Entering the Workforce as a Gen X\u2019er in a Gen Z World: Notes from the Oldest Person in the Office"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/#website","url":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/","name":"","description":"Hormones, humor, and a whole lot of drama","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/#\/schema\/person\/2540569a32e03f0e54ec1290425bd138","name":"MAPEASLEY","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/88b7548a570fbd7f819ac16c99d1fa0eef751e041fdbe0973b61f5b3362a40cf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/88b7548a570fbd7f819ac16c99d1fa0eef751e041fdbe0973b61f5b3362a40cf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/88b7548a570fbd7f819ac16c99d1fa0eef751e041fdbe0973b61f5b3362a40cf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"MAPEASLEY"},"url":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/author\/mapeasley\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":49,"url":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/from-freelance-to-full-time-rejoining-the-workforce-in-my-40s-as-a-creative-marketer\/","url_meta":{"origin":96,"position":0},"title":"From Freelance to Full-Time: Rejoining the Workforce in My 40s as a Creative Marketer","author":"MAPEASLEY","date":"April 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"For the past several years, I\u2019ve been my own boss. A freelance creative marketer\u2014juggling clients, pitching ideas, writing copy, building campaigns, and doing all the behind-the-scenes hustle that keeps the lights on and the invoices (mostly) paid. I wore all the hats, drank all the coffee, and lived in a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Career Stuff"","block_context":{"text":"Career Stuff","link":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/category\/financial-health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":21,"url":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/the-creative-marketers-lament-how-new-technology-is-driving-me-crazy-and-out-of-a-job\/","url_meta":{"origin":96,"position":1},"title":"The Creative Marketer’s Lament: How New Technology is Driving Me Crazy (and Out of a Job)","author":"MAPEASLEY","date":"April 14, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"I'll never forget the good old days of marketing. You know, back when a \"viral\" campaign meant a clever print ad or a catchy TV commercial, not a tweet that's been retweeted 12 times. When a \"social media strategy\" meant having a MySpace page (RIP), not a 12-page deck outlining\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Career Stuff"","block_context":{"text":"Career Stuff","link":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/category\/financial-health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":309,"url":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/dating-with-intention-in-a-swipe-happy-world\/","url_meta":{"origin":96,"position":2},"title":"Dating With Intention in a Swipe-Happy World","author":"MAPEASLEY","date":"December 5, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"I\u2019ve been dating again. Like, actually dating\u2014putting myself out there, meeting men for coffee or drinks or trail walks, having those first-date conversations where you learn what someone does for work, whether they have kids, what they\u2019re into outside of Netflix binges. It\u2019s been... interesting. Hopeful at times, frustrating at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Relationship Stuff"","block_context":{"text":"Relationship Stuff","link":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/category\/relationship-health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":68,"url":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/when-he-said-he-needed-multiple-women-to-be-happy\/","url_meta":{"origin":96,"position":3},"title":"When He Said He Needed Multiple Women to Be Happy","author":"MAPEASLEY","date":"April 21, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"After my ex and I split, he had a revelation: he\u2019d decided the only way he could truly be happy was by being in a relationship with multiple women. According to him, it was \u201cimpossible\u201d to find everything he needed in just one person. Let me be clear\u2014this isn\u2019t about\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Relationship Stuff"","block_context":{"text":"Relationship Stuff","link":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/category\/relationship-health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":295,"url":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/the-complications-of-dating-when-you-have-kids\/","url_meta":{"origin":96,"position":4},"title":"The Complications of Dating When You Have Kids","author":"MAPEASLEY","date":"September 25, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Dating is complicated. Dating when you don\u2019t have kids but the person you\u2019re seeing does? Extra complicated. I learned this the hard way recently when someone I had been getting to know sent me a message that basically said: \"I was feeling a bit like you wanted me to respond\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Relationship Stuff"","block_context":{"text":"Relationship Stuff","link":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/category\/relationship-health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":72,"url":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/from-anxious-to-avoidant-how-im-learning-to-heal-my-attachment-style-after-trauma-dbt-and-the-end-of-a-20-year-relationship\/","url_meta":{"origin":96,"position":5},"title":"From Anxious to Avoidant: How I\u2019m Learning to Heal My Attachment Style After Trauma, DBT, and the End of a 20-Year Relationship","author":"MAPEASLEY","date":"May 12, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"For most of my adult life, I thought my biggest problem in relationships was that I cared too much. I needed constant reassurance. I overanalyzed texts. I worried endlessly about being too much, or not enough, or somehow both at the same time. I often felt like I was hanging\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Mental Health Stuff"","block_context":{"text":"Mental Health Stuff","link":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/category\/mental-health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=96"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=96"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=96"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/infirstposition.com\/ovaryactive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=96"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}