Is there a huge difference for a 34 dating a 40 year old?

[Bobbi7]

I guess it might not seem like a huge age difference, but when I was 18, dating a 25 year old guy would have been a huge age difference-they are technically from Generation X-so as far as common interests like music, movies, that would have been extremely different. Now maybe it doesn't seem like that much of an age gap?

[preraph]

Not unless one of you is extremely immature for their age or extremely elderly for their age.

[Smoothman]

1. Forget any rubbish you read about "Generation X, Gen Y, baby boomers"...whatever. These are useless, meaningless categories created by lazy marketers to try and make their job easy, and have NO RELEVANCE to REAL PEOPLE.

2. Six years is nothing.

[TX-SC]

When I was 40 my wife was 35. Not a big difference really.

[bu2002]

Age matters in the context of what place each of you is in your lives.

 

If a 26 and 22 year old are dating, the 26 year old might've been working for 4 years, and has gotten settled in the city with their careers, circle of friends, etc. The 22 year old might've just graduated and started medical school and has many nights/years of studying/residency ahead. These are two people that could be at two different stages of life despite being 4 years apart.

 

A 34 and 27 year could be both be working professionals, both completed with all schooling and settled in the same city for several years and have similar schedules. These two might be 7 years apart but at similar stages of their life.

[mortensorchid]

6 years? That's nothing. Two of my bfs are 5 and 6 years younger than me. They feel good about themselves that they are with a slightly older woman, I am happy I am with a slightly younger man. But the words here are "slightly". It's nothing.

[No_Go]

I dated a dude who was 46 when I was 27, and i was DEFINITELY the more mature in the couple. Now at 31 my BF is 38 - again I'm the more mature one.

 

I think 34/40 is so close, that most people would probably never notice unless told explicitly.

 

I guess it might not seem like a huge age difference, but when I was 18, dating a 25 year old guy would have been a huge age difference-they are technically from Generation X-so as far as common interests like music, movies, that would have been extremely different. Now maybe it doesn't seem like that much of an age gap?

[JustGettingBy]

Seems perfectly acceptable to me.

[Gloria25]

A 34 and 40's couple are at different and better stages in their lives than a 18 and 25 yr old couple - to make an informed decision and have a lasting RL.

 

For one, unless they're major screw ups, a 34 and 40 year old are gonna be comfortable in their own skin, worldly, experienced and have a career and/or their own "stuff" (car, home, etc.).

 

The only issue(s) could see is if either has baggage (prior kids, marriage) and who's the female. Cuz, a 34 year old female - especially if she has no kids - is probably gonna be ready to start a family (if she wants one) and doesn't have time to waste while a 40 year old either already has kids and/or doesn't want any. Cuz, if he/she's 40 and no kids then he/she's probably not gonna want to change; and, if he/she already has kids, he/she probably has so many obligations with his/her own kids that bringing more into the picture - especially with him/her being 40 is gonna be a headache.

 

On the other hand, 18 and 25 is still too unstable. I don't even need to explain that a 18 year old is still a teenager and is immature. They have a lot of "growing-up" to do, literally. And while the 25 year old may be more experienced and all that - they still probably won't be as wise and/or experienced and/or ready to settle until they're like 28 - 30. So, anyone dating a 18 yr old and/or a 25 year old is probably gonna have issues cuz those age groups are still going through a lot of changes.

[Lady2163]

Dating isn't a big deal, but relationship...the 40 year old may be thinking about NOT having kids and the 34 year old could still be in baby mode.

[mmmike]

I guess it might not seem like a huge age difference, but when I was 18, dating a 25 year old guy would have been a huge age difference-they are technically from Generation X-so as far as common interests like music, movies, that would have been extremely different. Now maybe it doesn't seem like that much of an age gap?

 

Your question seems a bit immature, no offense. My parents have a 12 year age gap and been married forever. My mom is the older one. My friends have a ten year age difference, she in her 30's and he in his 40's and they have been married for 11 years now and dated years before that. They broke up for a couple years before they got back togther and remarried but I'm sure that's because my female friend needed to grow up a little. Even a decade age difference is nothing. Love is love.

[Mumbles]

Dating isn't a big deal, but relationship...the 40 year old may be thinking about NOT having kids and the 34 year old could still be in baby mode.

 

Yeah, I was just going to say the same. Outside of the having of babies, I don't think age difference really matters a jot.

 

Probably more than 15 years difference or so will need a certain personality type, just because generational differences will start to creep in at the edges (music taste for example, but plenty of others), but usually most of these relatively small variations are easily dealt with, lived with, overcome by two willing partners.

 

But the having babies thing needs to be thought about. A relatively young man or woman might be quite keen on having a family, his or her 20 years older partner might not necessarily be thinking the same. But its probably horses for courses tbh ... as varied as people are.

 

I'm nearly 50 and wouldn't say no to a childs arrival. My wife is quite a bit younger than me, though probably not quite young enough to make this a real probability ... but anything can happen right?

 

Its interesting that in my scenario I'm quite open to having a child, but my mrs is more cautious - mind you, it wouldn't be me -actually- bearing the baby, so that might have a bit to do with it hahaha.