just wondering, theres a lot of people here, I'm sure some married, so I could get viable advice from this board.

Question: I am 4 years older than my girlfriend, we have been dating for almost 11 months. How do I talk to her without sounding condensatin?sp? (talk down to her). usually when she gets upset about it I'm just trying to stop her from making the same mistakes I've made. Or make her feel better about something that has happened to me.
eg. She just totalled her car, and I'm trying to explain to her that is what insurance is for. Trying to get her to stop stressing about it, but she is just getting uspet with me.

Advice, advice advice. how should i talk to her, for those married and/or in a serious relationship (excluding those 16yr old hardcore programmers that haven't had a girlfriend).

::drunken post warning, I'm not sure if this makes sense, if it does, reply, if it doesn't, forgive the vodka::