S/O: Differences in age for dating/marriage????

[DawnM]

The discussion on celebrity crushes brought up age differences.

What age difference is too much?

I know a 46 year old woman who just married a 21 year old "boy."

 

[Hikergirl]

For me, its more about maturity difference than age difference. I don't think a 21 year old has the maturity of a 46 year old but I'm sure there are exceptions. That span would be too much for me, but I don't care what others do for themselves.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I've been married 1/2 my life, so I'm not sure. But, I do feel like I have more in common with people who have children near the ages of my children than I necessarily do with people MY age. So, were I to find myself out there again, I can see where that might factor in. But, now nearing 50, I think 10 years is about the biggest spread I'd consider. When I was younger, that would have been far too large a gap.

 

[Vijoge]

The discussion on celebrity crushes brought up age differences.

What age difference is too muc
I know a 46 year old woman who just married a 21 year old "boy."

I was 44 when my husband and I got married. He was 24. We've been married 21 years.

 

[Disneylover99]

I like an older man. I think up to 11 or 12 years older would be my age limit though.

 

[Bluestars]

My mom was 11 years younger than my step father. Two of the four kids they had together were born when my mom was in her early 40s and he was in his early 50s. He was seriously ill the last four years of his life and she took on full-time care of him while running her own business. It took a huge toll on her. While I am sure she wouldn't trade her years with him for anything, it's sad that marrying an older man increased the possibility that she would outlive him by many years and that their two youngest children had to lose their father while still young.

I am very grateful that I found someone my own age. I don't think age matters once people are adults, but it's huge when both of those adults get older and one is extremely older than the other.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

The discussion on celebrity crushes brought up age differences.

What age difference is too much?

I know a 46 year old woman who just married a 21 year old "boy."

As a mother of a 20 something son, who is about the age of the woman, that would be awkward & disappointing. DH is 6 1/2 years older than I. Obviously, I think that's a good age gap, because women are normally more mature than men at the same age. My 1st DH was a year younger than I & much less mature. That was the main reason we divorced.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

My ex was like 13.5 years older than me, that didn't work out too well.

 

[Poohlove]

I dated a man who is 15 years my senior for quite some time. At first it was great, he is mature and set in his career, didn't live in his parents basement... After a while though I felt like he treated me like one of his kids rather than as an equal. This contributed to our downfall, there were other reasons though. In the future I would be reluctant to date someone that much older than me, especially at my age. I would definitely not someone that much younger than me either but I would not rule out someone a few years younger.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

FIL is 63, dating a 24 year old. I think it is gross. She's closer to my 4 year old daughter's age than she is to his age. Yuck.

 

[Poohlove]

My dad is 63, I can't imagine dating someone his age at my age (39) let alone at 24. What could you possibly have in common?

 

[Pixiedustaway]

The biggest gap for me was 6 years. Me and my husband are 4 years apart.. barely noticeable, imo. Anything in the teens is too much for me.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

FIL is 63, dating a 24 year old. I think it is gross. She's closer to my 4 year old daughter's age than she is to his age. Yuck.

And when she's 30 and he's 70, he's going to trade her in for a younger model.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

And when she's 30 and he's 70, he's going to trade her in for a younger model.

Good luck to him with that, unless he's a multi-millionaire.

 

[MataHari22]

I think it depends on the people involved, but as a general rule, I think once the difference gets passed 15 years, that is probably too much. I have dated men that were younger than I am, by couple of years. After my divorce, I dated someone that was 12 years younger than I was. I didn't know it when I first went out with him, I thought maybe I was a little older, but I certainly didn't think it was 12 years. I'm not dating right now, but if I was, I'm not sure I would be interested in men older than me. I especially would not date anyone that's old enough to be my dad. I just don't see that happening. I think the oldest guy I dated was 4 or 5 years older than me.

 

[Vijoge]

As a mother of a 20 something son, who is about the age of the woman, that would be awkward & disappointing. DH is 6 1/2 years older than me. Obviously, I think that's a good age gap, because women are normally more mature than men at the same age. My 1st DH was a year younger than I & much less mature. That was the main reason we divorced.

My husband's mother felt the same way when we got married. 20+ years later, though, it's a non-issue.

 

[loves to dive]

There is 13 years between me and my honey, we've been together for 24 years so I'm guessing the age difference doesn't matter. I was 35 and he was 22 when we got together.

 

[tvguy]

I'm 4 months older than my wife. 34+ years of marriage, so far, so good.
My dad was 13 years older than my mom. All was well as far as I could see. I would say about 15 years would be the maximum age difference in my opinion. I know love can conquer a lot of things, but when you get to be a generation (20 years) or two (40 years) older than your spouse, there are just too many life experience differences to over come in my opinion.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

My BIL just got remarried last year. He is 47; his new bride is 27. Right now they are blissfully happy. But....they started dating when he was 39 and she was 19. My own DD is almost 18. If she started dating a 38 year old man, I would have a fit!

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Good luck to him with that, unless he's a multi-millionaire.

Haha, not even close! She's a pretty girl, I really don't understand the appeal at all. It definitely bothers me.