Age difference in relationships

Just a general thread to ask what people think of age gaps in relationships and what works and what doesn't.
For instance I am considering dating a guy who is 24 (only just turned 24) to my 31 years.. I seem to have an issue with it in the back of my mind but he sees is all as being no problem....

I dont see any probs. I was dating a guy 10 years older than me. Ye it was short lived. But it certainly wasnt bout our age difference. Why should there be any issues. As long as ur both happy thats all that matters right?

personal experience i have always dated older people. i do not think it works if the motives are not right if it is not the right time the right person and especially if you are not out of your teenage years yet i was 17 when i dated a 28 year old that lasted a year i don't know what he saw in me because looking back now i had absolutely nothing to offer the relationship (well i know what he saw in me ) than when i was 19 i started dating a 40 year old now my ex hu father of my 7 year old. dated for 5 years seems like longer on and off. yeah it's a huge age gap but we had about the same mentality. so i don't think age matters too much, i think it works when you get to be a little bit more established in life....as long as the person is on the same path that you are on it should work if i found someone now (which i already have someone) but if i found someone who was 20 years older than me it would tottaly work......now i'm with someone younger than me

I dont think age matters at all, the Guy I like is a few yrs younger than me and It doesnt mean anything to me. Long as the person makes you happy , Go for it Belle! You deserve to be happy!

My bf of 5 years is 13 years older than me. We met when I was 19. And it doesn't bother me and works for us

I was 24 involved with a man who was 49. This was 10 years ago. We were together for a couple years. The age didn't really matter, we seperated for other reasons.

So far it seems generally that the men are older than the women. Is that a society thing or that men mature at a different rate to women?
I have been with older (bewteen 3-6 years) and younger (2-3 years) and if you count last night's date, also 7 years younger now. He wants a relationship but I am thinking that if my ex could run off with a younger woman then the chance of someone 7 years younger than me wanting that eventually is more than a possibility.

My bf is 5 years older than me, i dont think age matters though. Im sure I'd be with someone younger than me if we had the same relationship.

My best friend's mom and stepdad are 15 years apart, her mom being the older one in the relationship, they are incredibly happy together and have a very healthy marriage and relationship. What matters in a relationship is how two people compliment each other, and how willing they are to work together. I don't see a problem with age diffrences as long as both parties in the relationship are legal adults, it really doesn't have a huge implication on the relationship unless you allow it to. I was involved with a man 11 years older than me for about a year and a half, the issues in that relationship was never because of age, but because we had conflicting beliefs, morals, and personalities. What matters is that both of you are happy and healthy in this relationship. I wish you the best.

I don't have a problem with dating older men (I am 34) but I definitely CANNOT handle dating younger men. The ones I have tried to date or come into contact with are VERY inmature. I just can't handle the playing video game playing and general disposition. I am not saying all younger men are that way; I am sure there are a lot of very mature 20 something's out there I just haven't seen them. I just seem to go for the older, salt/pepper haired men who will intellectually challenge me.

Past a certain point age really isn't an issue. Late teens or very early 20s I consider it one simply because the difference in maturity between a 20 and 21 yr old is massive. But once you get into the mid-twenties and early-thirties, I don't see a problem. If your personalities mesh then what's the big deal?

I think in a lot of cases (not is all cases mind you), men tend to be less mature than women at the same age unless they go through something that causes them to mature & become more responsible (like going into the military or having a life experience that forces the issue) & some men are just better at being responsible, but haven't seen that many who are.

Know that my husband is no more mature/responsible at 59 than he was at 23.....which is why I left him after 33 years on a long miserable marriage.

Funny, the same reason I didn't want to marry him when I got married was the same reason I left.....immature & irresponsible

belle, is he saying he wants a relationship with you after a bit of internet communication but only one real date? if so, then i'd be a bit concerned as that to me would be a sign of immaturity.

Hey bloom

I have learnt not to move that fast after the Louis thing LOL so relstionship is not in my mind.

Really i just wanted peoples opinions as I couldn't think of anyone in real life that had a sensible relationship with a younger man.... then i did remember that my dad was 5 years younger than my Mum

For the time being we are "dating".... which I guess is the prelude to a realtionship. I said to him that if we are just dating does it mean i can still see other people.. and he said he guessed so...but that he didn't like the fact. He is happy just dating me. I am not sure that i will still see other guys.. something I need to think about along with the age difference and if it will play on my mind.

One other question to throw out there:

What is the difference between dating and a relationship?
Is it just a different lable? Why do things have to be labled?

good for you girl.

my dad was 17 years older than my mom. only marriage for both and for 38 years before my dad died. i think they did pretty well too altho they weren't very romantic. that was probably partly due to my dad's generation though.

it might give you some good perspective to date various guys. shoot, it might just be fun too.

i'll be interested to hear what others think. i don't know if everyone sees it the same or not. hmm...i think i see dating as the getting to know you stage with no firm commitment to be exclusive. i think relationships are usually exclusive and more serious than dating and they tend to lead to greater commitment. dating is more casual and in the moment and focused on fun without necessarily thinking about a future with the person. this is just me, but i don't really see anything less than 3 months being more than dating even if not seeing anyone else. that's my take but i'm sure others see it differently and that's cool.

i don't think we have to label things tho. if it's healthy and you're happy then that is really what matters.

I am dating a man who is six years younger then me.. It was fine when I was 36 and he was 30. Now that I am 43 I feel like he is looking at me like an old lady... He has told me that I am the ugliest girlfriend he has ever had. I use to be really confident with my looks so his comment didn't bother me that much. However now that I am getting older and don't look as good as I use to, those words echo in my mind daily....