Just intrested in what you guys think and the reletionships you have ecounterd/been involved in that have had a large age gap.

Personaly I think it's not the most important thing in a relationship but can underpin many difficulties. I have been involved in one myself and found that as much as we both went into the whole thing with gallons of optimisim our age difference dictated that we wanted different things out of life and it broke down.

However someone I know who is 44 is seeing a 19 year old guy and as mea as it sounds I can't help but be pesimistic about the whole thing.
I didn't give my opinion when I was asked what I thought of it as I didn't want to send any negative vibes out and worry ethier person.

I suppose my view on the whole thing is idealy age isn't a factor and love is a force that ignores such boundaries but when it comes down to the nitty gritty parts of a releationship a big age gap can make or break things.

I have always said, I will always maintain, that age is not important in relationships. People can have massive age gaps and be very happy, but be with somebody the same age as them and be miserable. Its an individual thing, but both partners must be ok with the age gap for it to work.
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This one comes up every so often, but as there's different people around I'm just going to say that I prefer younger men and the age gap is usually no big deal BUT for me personally I don't like to be with anyone if I feel like their daughter or their mother.... so, it normally turns out that my preference lies between 35-45
I've known other couples with large age gaps and haven't seen them going through any more problems than any other couples I know...... it's all about compatability at the end of the day.
Any relationship needs a shared vision to be great.

The biggest age gaps I've experience personally were 9 years older than me (I was 38, she was 47.. still quite recent that one!)... and 17 years younger than me (I was 33, she was 16.) I have to say obviously the relationship with the 16 year old was never going to last.. she was nice, we were good together, but at the end of the day a 16 year old wants different things from a 33 year old. It was a damn good shag though and proof that I've still got the MAGIC.

Ever tried explaining love?...what ever you say the chances are you will be right. But is there one single way to explain it?

My sister is 34 and her husband is 69.

They are happy in love.

They have a max of 20 years together and they are happy in love.

There is no explanation of love, you just do.

i dont think age is a major concern for the two people involved.it always seems to be a bigger problem for people outwith relationship.ive personally not been involved with an older women but went home wi a couple

Age shouldn't be a problem, but its what other people think that can cause the problem. I've been seeing a guy who's 42, I'm 21 and look a lot younger also. And when we used to go out anywhere we'd get stared at. At first I felt so uncomfortable and wondered what people thought of me. But then I realised it doesnt matter, I was having fun, I got on very well with, it was never going to turn into a relationship, but we were really good friends who liked to spend a lot of time together. Now if people stare, I stick two fingers up at them. Whats it to them? Nothing illegal, not hurting anyone, just friends.

I myself have always dated guys on the older side. Mostly guys in their mid 20's.

I have dated a guy who was in his mid 30's. It's not the number, or the intelligence it's the amount of experience one has in life that determines how it works out.

For instance, I have a lot of experience on how to make a relationship work, how to deal with issues that pop up between two people, and work them out. The life I've lived thus far has rendered me some general wisdom as well. Safe to say I'm very mature for my age. I have many goals,dreams,and aspirations in life. Sadly, he did not. Though he reminded what my heart was for (I thank him in my heart truly), we realized it wouldn't work.

I was going to go off to follow my path, and though he had more experience because of his age, I had him at loss for wisdom and gusto in life. He was a beautiful soul, but in the end, not mine to hold.

Age to me: The number doesn't matter. It's how conscienctientious of the world one is, the eyes they view it, and what they take in with the years that determines the age of one's soul.

What I'm saying is this rather simply: It really has to do with the individual people. If the 34 year old I was in love with hadn't lost his love for life and didn't have a problem with making a change we would have worked out.

I would say age doesn't matter. Cos it doesn't to a certain extent. But you're always likely to get weird looks when your dating someone a lot older. I tried to date a guy 12 years older than me, but It didn't work out. My fault not his. He's 31 i'm 19... I dunno I think I wasn't really ready for lationship as serious as he made it..

I have no preference either way, either younger or older (although my current girlfriend is somewhat younger than me). I don’t think an age gap matters all that much as long as you have enough in common to be able to spend time together without being bored and restless, or feel that the relationship is on an unequal footing.

Having said that, I think I said elsewhere else on the forum that I don’t see myself being with someone who is older than me by the same number of years that the majority of my previous girlfriends have been younger than me. Although this might seem to contradict my ideology that an age gap is irrelevant, I think it has more to do with a generation difference than anything else – I don’t think I would have very much in common with someone in their mid-60’s, whereas there appears to be less of a generation gap the other way (random example, similar music or cultural interests).


Edit: However, I don't think people should restrict themselves to searching for a potential partner within a specific age range either (ditto for other criteria). Too many little pigeon holes might mean that one might miss out on meeting someonethat is ideal for them! I know someone who, for 2 years or so, searched dating sites for men aged between 35 - 45 without any success. When she increased her search criteria to 35 - 50, she met someone. I'm not sure what the moral of that story is, but there probably is one

Its not really much of an issue now, and not as much as it was. Young people are maybe not forced into doing things as they once where. So the aim is to meet someone you are happy and comfortable with.

A very good mate of mine, he's 50, is seeing an 18 year old women. He started seeing her when she was 17.
He allowed the mother of the women to vet him, and the mother was totally happy with him.

Although the girlfriend is intelligent, she has one or two minor emotional issues my mate can cope with, that maybe someone her own age wouldn't be able or want to. I think the mother is happy she is with someone that is trustworthy and can cope.

Everyone is happy all round at the moment. But how long it will last, who knows?

I always preferred my daughter having older boyfriends as they just seemed to treat her better than ones her own age. Plus, it wouldn't bother me if my son had an older woman girlfriend either, I just like to see them both happy and respected, as I want to be too.

In my opinion, age is not a problem. Like many people have said, the only problem that usually occurs is from other people.

Well what I say to that is.... Don't care what other people think, hold you head up high and be proud of who you are and who you are with. If the age isn't a problem with you and your partner, then you shouldn't be bothered about what other people think of you!

When I was 13 I was with a 19 year old. Nothing major happened as he didn't want to break the law lol, but we still had a good relationship. We ended it when I was 14 because of his family and I was distraught! But now I am 19 and he is 25 and we are the bests of mates, but there is still that lust/love there between us!

The guy that I am currently seeing is 29. 10 years between us. Nobody cares and everyone respects us both as we hold are heads up high and never hide away from the public. He is a fantastic person.

My parents also have 10 years between them, been together nearly 30 years and they are happy in love STILL after all that time!

So no age is not a problem in my eyes, it's more of a problem to the public who see you together!

Yes ... same here..

age gaps are not a problem, for me .. As long as there is love between me and my partner, its all good

Most people on here know my view on age gaps...for those who dont, I have always prefered younger guys, was married to one for 17 years...i've never had a problem with the difference in age....after all its just a number.....