Meeting someone you like and could see yourself with long-term is wonderful—but if there’s an age gap between you two, it could give you some pause. Dating someone 10 years younger than you might sound like a stretch, but in reality, age gap relationships can last just as long as other relationships. We’ve gathered a list of tips to keep in mind as you nurture your partnership to attract and keep a beautiful woman.

1

Grow closer to each other with common interests.

  1. You two will most likely bond over what you have in common. Just like a relationship with a woman your own age, you should spend time doing things you love together as a couple. Try not to think of your age as a hindrance to this fact—if you two are right for each other, you’re going to find a couple of things that you have in common.[1]
    • For instance, maybe you’re both foodies and you love trying new restaurants. You could each suggest a new place and pick one for a date night.
    • Or, maybe you’re both voracious readers. Try taking her on a date to the bookstore, then get coffee afterward.
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2

Treat her like an equal partner.

  1. Age is just a number, and you two are in an equal partnership together. You may have had more life experience at this point, but you still need to work together to make decisions and create future plans. It’s fine to take the lead on some things, but if you overpower her in the relationship constantly, issues could happen over time.[2]
    • Even little things, like asking her where she wants to go to dinner or deciding where to vacation together, will help ensure that you’re both on even footing.
    • Be direct. Don’t try to play games or get super subtle when the two of you are communicating.
5

Try to keep up with her sexually.

6

Be dependable.

  1. Older people have a reputation for being more reliable. While you don’t have to be mature and serious in every situation, you should try to make plans and stick to them. A lot of times, younger people will go for someone older because they’re tired of the wishy-washy nature of people their own age. Stick to your word, and the woman you’re dating is most likely going to be impressed.
    • Try to stay in contact with her too, especially when you first start dating. Waiting a while before asking someone on a date again is a young person’s game, so you don’t need to do that.
7

Let her live her own life.

  1. She might have friends or hobbies you aren’t involved in, and that’s okay. If she’s too busy to hang out with you one weekend, take advantage of the free time and spend some time on your own. You’re both going to have interests and friendships that the other person isn’t a part of, which is a great sign of a healthy relationship.[5]
    • This can be even more true in age gap relationships. Since you two are in different life stages, she might have different interests than you do, which is fine.
    • Don’t overthink things or read too much into it if she wants to have fun alone. This is perfectly normal.
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8

Give her advice if she asks.

  1. The key here is to try not to lecture her. Since you’re a bit older, you have more life experience, which can be very valuable to someone who is young. However, constantly giving your date life advice can skew the dynamics a bit, and it can sometimes feel like you’re talking to a child instead of a romantic partner. If she needs help, she’ll ask you—otherwise, try not to do it too often.[6]
    • For instance, maybe you can help her out with a 401(k), or figuring out how to quit her job. Advice like this can be super useful, especially coming from a partner.
10

Talk about relationship issues with her.

  1. Age gap relationships can have slightly more issues than other relationships. If anything serious crops up, be sure to keep an open line of communication with her so you two can chat about your issues. Check in with her often by asking things like, “Are you happy in our relationship?” and, “How do you feel our relationship is going?”
    • Studies show that as age gap relationships progress, satisfaction tends to lower for some partners.[8] If you do get serious and problems start to crop up, consider seeing a couple’s counselor.
11

Spend time with loved ones who won’t judge.

  1. Your true friends and family members will want you to be happy. Hang onto the friends and family members who accept your relationship at face value and won’t judge you for who you date. Dating a younger woman is mostly accepted by society, but still, you might face a bit of criticism, and that can be tough to hear.[9]
    • If you’re gearing up to meet her parents, ask her to talk to them and tell them that you’re a little older than her. You may want to be prepared for a little questioning from her parents, especially the first time you meet. Just emphasize how much you love and respect their daughter, and how happy you both are in the relationship. [10]
    • Some friends and family members might just need a little time to get used to things. Once they see that you're in a loving, healthy relationship, they’ll probably come around.
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12

Try not to pay attention to criticism.

  1. Stand together if anyone tries to criticize your relationship. All that matters is the happiness of you and your partner, so don’t let outside opinions get to you. Try to explain how deep your relationship is to the people around you, and brush off comments from strangers if they happen. If you and your partner are content with your relationship, then other people’s opinions won’t phase you as much.[11]
    • A lot of times, people are well-meaning when they question your relationship. They might just be worried about you or your partner, so try to reassure them however you can.

About This Article

Christina Jay, NLP
Co-authored by:
Matchmaker & Certified Life Coach
This article was co-authored by Christina Jay, NLP and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Christina Jay is a Matchmaker and Certified Life Coach based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Christina is the founder of Preferred Match (preferredmatch.ca), her matchmaking service that finds love for successful and elite individuals. She has over 10 years of coaching experience, earned her NLP (Neuro-linguistic Programming) certification through NLP Canada Training, and has a BA in Business Administration from Brock University. This article has been viewed 43,880 times.
4 votes - 25%
Co-authors: 7
Updated: March 2, 2023
Views: 43,880
Categories: Relationships
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