Wife mentionitis

[Manaworm]

Wondering about people's opinion on this..
I got divorced about 3 years ago so not a long time single lady.
Often I find if I meet a new male person in a completely non-dating environment (think group meeting/team sport/dog walking) they usually somehow bring the fact they have a wife into the conversation in the first few minutes.

I know that younger women often can't be friendly without men thinking they are flirting but thought it would stop when you are older? For context I am 48, overweight, with thinning hair and sagging jowls!
Do I just notice this because I am not married anymore or do these guys think I'm interested because of my extroversion? Or can they literally not talk to a woman without relating their 'wife says this/does that'?

I wouldn't read anything into it. I think it's just a thing people naturally talk about when they meet a new colleague or whatever.

Think it’s just normal work small talk.

I think it is just chat, nothing more meaningful. I probably mention my dog within the first few minutes of meeting someone. There is no ulterior motive there.

It's because you're a single middle-aged woman!!!
Apparently, there is no other reason for talking to a man except to chat them up!