‘I Dated a Man More Than 10 Years Older Than Me—Here’s What It Was Like’

“I don’t think it is a big deal at all that my boyfriend is 15 years older than me. Once you get past your twenties, age means nothing in love and relationships. It really doesn’t! Despite the age difference, we always have a lot to talk about and our lives are very similar, too. When I don’t mention his age upfront, people think we are only five years apart. I guess that’s because he looks really young still and has all of his hair. He has really good hair and genes!”—Deborah C., 34

“I’m 21 and he’s 33. I’m about to graduate college and get a job. He’s the VP of a tech start-up. I’m trying to get drunk on the weekends for under $10, he goes to clubs and gets bottle service. He has a house, I live in an apartment near campus. We have almost nothing in common, but I love that. He is different than my friends in a good way and he helps me realize I need to focus on my career more after I graduate. He likes me because I keep things young, fresh, and really funny.” —Kara W., 21 

“Dating up is a good idea if you are looking for someone who is mature. I like my current boyfriend, even though it has only been three months, because I feel safe, comfortable, and secure with him. When I dated guys my age, I had to pay for dinner, and concerts, and their lives. With my new boyfriend, I don’t even carry a wallet around with me.”—Ashley P., 23

“When my now-boyfriend hit on me, I instantly wrote the situation off because, as I told him, ‘Dating you would be like dating my father.’ He’s only 11 years older than me, but still! Slowly our friendship evolved into more, and we’ve been dating for two years. It’s not weird to me now, but that hasn’t stopped people from giving us weird looks when we are together or affectionate in public.”—Krista W., 25

 “I am dating someone who is close to 20 years older than me and one major perk, if I’m being honest, is that he has money. It’s not new money (or young money) where he wants to go out and blow it on stupid things; it’s the earned life he’s been creating for years. I like that security, and the thought that with him, money isn’t an issue.”—Mary S., 33

“My advice to everyone is date somebody who is older than you. It is my golden rule for love. I love dating older because then there is less drama and B.S. Everyone says what they mean and how they feel. There’s very little fighting or problems that pop up. I love it. My current boyfriend is 10 years older than me.”—Jackie H., 31

The article ‘I Dated a Man More Than 10 Years Older Than Me—Here’s What It Was Like’ originally ran on WomensHealthMag.com.