Regardless of age, the foundation of a healthy relationship must encompass a mutual understanding and emotional connection between the parties involved. A great relationship is filled with love, respect, and consideration. So as you can imagine, and as some have grown more accustomed to, the fact is, it’s not unusual to be in a relationship with someone several years older than you. However, if the age gap is too wide, it may appear out of the ordinary for some, but like for real, who cares? Studies have shown a higher likelihood of social condemnation for couples with an age gap of ten years or more. Not shocking, right? Judgment is real out here, ya’ll! So let’s dig in. Does age difference matter in marriage? And when compared to couples of similar ages, are they more likely to turn out better or worse in their relationship? Hmmm…
Age Gap Love
Age is just one factor of any person. Because our lives progress through several distinct phases, having a partner who understands and supports you at every point of your journey together is critical. When you’re in a relationship with someone at a different stage of life, you may not mesh or be able to grow together effectively. You may be going through experiences for the first time, such as buying a house, whereas your senior partner has been there before.
This can be an interesting dynamic…….
When you are in a relationship, it is normal for everyone involved to demonstrate enthusiasm for everything you do together, especially when you are reaching new heights or when it’s the first time you are going through something together. Recognize that, if you are the one that is a bit older, while you may have done something previously, your partner may be experiencing this incredible moment for the first time, so be sensitive, and live in the excitement with them.
There is no correlation between a person’s age and the success of a relationship (age is not equal to wisdom). It depends on the degree to which partners share the same core values, views, and priorities regarding their relationship. How they support each other to reach their goals, build commitment, trust and intimacy and solve problems in healthy ways are all defining elements to be considered. There is no doubt that any age gap, love can work as long as there is an understanding. You will for sure need healthy communication and compromise, be on the same page with your wants and needs, and like with any other relationship, everyone has to feel appreciated, communicated with, and overtly understood. Right?!
When discussing the topic of love and an age gap, it is not difficult to imagine challenges such as social rejection; nonetheless, this shouldn’t overshadow what is most important in a relationship – how you feel about what you have. Forget the outsiders. At the end of the day, no matter the relationship, only the parties within the relationship know exactly what is going on! No need for the “others” to be a part of it.
Does Age Matter in a Relationship When The Woman Is Older?
Emotional and mental maturity rank higher than physical maturity. Nowadays, a woman can choose the type of relationship she desires or requires and the type of man who best suits her. We all remember how Stella Got Her Groove Back. We acknowledged it, respected it, and understood it. Stella was with a much younger man, and her experience while in the honeymoon phase was everything! I digress. The point is, a woman can select the man or partner she wants AND/or desires – you hear me?!
Compared to someone younger, most older women have a higher level of maturity and less reactive behavior. She can be more or less tolerant of flaws and a more forgiving partner in the relationship – at times! She has a deeper level of understanding and is more likely to have the ability to keep the relationship going, because of her life experiences.
In an age gap love relationship where the woman is older, she could anticipate having to make sacrifices to be with her partner. One of the sacrifices is slowing down on some life events or listening to grasp your partners’ feelings.
The greater the age gap, whether it be younger or older, or the same age for that matter, there will be aforementioned sacrifices to be made for anyone! But sacrifice and compromises are expressions of love, right? All we are asking is for you not to let the apprehension, judgment, or unknown territory to deter you from getting together with someone that could be the greatest match for you. Just be prepared to exercise patience and be reminded of the age gap from time to time. Let’s be real, there are some folks much older than me that are way more fit than I am. Soooo…
When anyone is dating someone younger than them, the tendency to bring out their inner child is surely a possible side effect, along with the eldest encouraging maturity. No matter what, this situation can strike a wonderful balance that makes a relationship fun while also being well-equipped to deal with life’s inevitable ups and downs.
Does Age Difference Matter in Marriage?
The marriage of French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Trogneux has been a topic of discussion. In 1993, when she was 40 years old and working as a teacher at La Providence High School, she met Emmanuel Macron, who was then 16 years old and a student. Brigitte had three children of her own and was married at the time. After several years, Brigitte divorced her husband and married Macron, who was 30 years old, and she was 54 years old at that time. This is super common now. I don’t know if you’ve seen it recently, but I certainly have. If it works for others, it works for me. I’m just out here trying to mind my business and watch the spread of love allow us to be great!
It’s important to note that various cultures view age gaps between spouses differently. Some believe the age gap should not be too big, while others believe the man should be slightly older than the woman. In other cultures, the age gap is irrelevant, which raises the question, does age difference matter in marriage? Before marrying a partner with a significant age gap, ask yourself the following questions:
- Can I do this?
- Is this something I can handle?
Remember, marriage is meant to be a commitment for life!
Due to the excitement at the beginning of a relationship and the feel-good emotions, lovers fail to ask themselves these vital questions. All parties involved must answer these questions on their own. There should be a conversation about these questions too, and early on so that when this issue arises later in the marriage, they can remember they agreed they were willing “to make it work and to allow it to flourish.”
Like so many unwarranted issues in life…many of the problems people believe will arise from an age gap marriage are unfounded. Perception is everything when it comes to age-gap marriages. If you find that you can’t stop thinking about it, you should either go for it and experience it first hand or simply avoid it. But don’t judge others for their decisions!
Conclusion
An age gap love relationship can be just as rewarding as a relationship with those close in age. All relationships come with their own set of problems, so it’s all about deciding what you want and are willing to go through to get the love of your life! Cheers!
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