Say that you hired a professional matchmaker to assist you with your dating life and while they were in the process of putting your profile together, they recommended a few people who were younger than you. No, not a couple of months younger but several years. How would you feel about that?
The reality is that although there used to be somewhat of a stigma surrounding older and younger individuals being in a relationship, no longer is it nearly as big of a deal as it used to be. Thankfully, now more people are simply interested in finding someone they are compatible with---someone who wants the same things out of a relationship as they do.
If dating a younger person is new to you, there are a few things to keep in mind, just so that you can feel comfortable about making the transition. So, before you decide to give your matchmaker the green light, take out a moment to consider the following five things first.
What kind of relationship do you want? If there is one major challenge that can sometimes come up while dating a younger person, it’s the fact that they might want a different kind of relationship than you do. For instance, if you’re 41 and they’re 32, you may be wanting to settle down fairly soon while they might still want to casually date. Sometimes different ages result in different seasons and stages of life. It’s a good idea to know which one you’re in before moving forward with a younger individual.
What are your personal interests and tastes? Say that the person you’re considering dating is 15 years younger than you. If they are just as interested as you are, first let us say “That’s awesome!” Just make sure to not forget that when you were in high school, they were still in diapers. That’s not meant to freak you out. It’s simply a reminder that you basically come from two different generations. This means that there’s a chance that you both may not like the same music or movies or have the same appreciation for pop culture. And you know what? That’s OK. Just make sure that you go into the relationship processing their interests as being “different” rather than “wrong” or “immature”.
What are you going to say to your family and friends? Even if you’re not skeptical, some people in your social circle probably will be. Sadly, a lot of potentially amazing relationships have ended up going sour just because the two people involved were far too concerned about what those around them thought. Dating a younger person requires a certain amount of self-confidence. Please make sure that you have it before starting this type of relationship.
What are your standards and expectations? This is something that you should ask yourself no matter how old the person is. But we’re mentioning it anyway because it can sometimes be easy to get caught up in the flattery and intrigue of dating a younger person to the point that you find yourself compromising your standards and minimizing your own expectations. As lucky as you might feel about who you are dating, remember that it should go both ways. They need to feel just as honored to be dating you too.
What are you doing it for? Motive speaks to outcome, more times than not. That said, if you’re dating someone younger to prove that “you’ve still got it”, while you might, that’s not the best reason to start a relationship. Everyone deserves to be liked for who they are as an individual regardless of their job, finances or yes, even their age. So, take out a moment and ask yourself if you’re dating a younger person for the right reasons. And the best reason should be that they are a great person who you’d like to get to know better. Simple as that.