Large age gap among couples is no longer a problem

Amy in Rochester, New York, US, comments, "I think that age is just a number. I once came across a quote that said, "Do not count your life by years, but experience and tears." I think that by being attracted to an older man it has caused me to take a look at myself and assess what I can bring to a relationship. Instead of comparing myself to friends, adding up my bedroom experiences and trying to make sure I am doing what is normal, I look at the bigger picture. What I mean by this is that I take a look at each moment and think about how I can best handle it. I look more at how I can best handle my life, how I can get the most out of every moment. It also makes me acutely aware of my maturity level both emotionally and physically. Personally knowing that they have a lot more experience does not bother me. I am comfortable with what I have done and not done. The older man would have to realize that and not want me to play catchup to him. I believe we do not have to get to the same experience level to enjoy the things we do together. "

What an attitude! If all couples in America could think along these lines we could probably reduce the divorce rate by half. Based on other emails that we have received from couples with significant age difference after we published our two stories Older men and younger women and then Older women and younger men, these are our findings:

• Age no longer matters because the traditional concept of a relationship is disappearing. When half the marriages don't last for a lifetime, couples are now looking for compatibility and fulfillment rather than a potential spouse in all cases.
• Americans are increasingly realizing that there is a difference between the age that is shown on the birth certificate and the actual "age" of a person. The two are often different.
• Having an experienced partner is not always a bad thing. Yes, sometimes it is a lot more fun to discover something new together but it doesn't hurt to learn from someone who knows. And to be honest, there is always something that both of you wouldn't know. Finally, even young people know stuff that old have no clue about.

Related article: Should you date a younger woman?