Bridging the age gap in dating

[Unpredictable Ranger 696]

They say that age is just a number. I have met a couple (they're my friends now) where the lady is still single because she hasn't married yet, is 34 years old and the man is 20 years old whereby the man's eldest brother who's about 31 or 30 years old opposing their relationship.

 

One thing about them: the woman even at the age of 34, looks like she is twenty years old (or somewhere in the twenties) when the man's brother, while he's younger than the woman, looks like he's in his late thirties.

 

Interesting part of the situation is that the young man was the one who initiated the relationship with the woman. From my observation of the couple, the man's maturity is more than his eldest brother's maturity level. At first, even we didn't know that the man is far younger than her because his personality is like he's around thirty years old.

 

This is just an example of the case, there are many other couple cases like this out there. What do you think, should the eldest brother interfere with his younger bro's relationship? How should the couple handle the situation?

Edited May 26, 2013 by Fluffle Puff

[~Master~ Button Mash 2,307]

If they love each other, what's the problem? Age is just a number, and love means more than just a number (as long as everyone is at or above the age of consent, obviously).

 

They should just tell their critics to keep hatin'. And the brother needs to mind his own business.

Edited May 26, 2013 by AtomicBassCannon

[Motion Spark 7,807]

age is just a number, granted. And the age gap should not matter even with society's standards...

 

However, if the older brother is concerned I can completely understand why. It might be possible that this woman is looking for a serious and stable relationship with the boy (I call him a boy because even though he is 20yo, he is still a teenager) and desire to start a family, while the boy might just want to mess around with a girlfriend.

And given the fact that the younger one is the male in this case, I would dare to say that he's not ready to settle up, cuz women usually mature faster than men.

 

The age gap might useless if "love" is involved but still it's something to have in consideration and will be variable depending on the situation, because that can get you in trouble.

[~Luminiferous Ether~ 107]

The age gap only matters if one is a minor, if not, and they are both willing and in love then I see no defined problem with them dating.

 

Not that my opinion should matter

[Bucky McGillyCuddy 956]

It's no ones business but the two in the relationship. I've never had the problem myself but I hear about it from friends all the time that some other people just can't help but constantly throw their negative opinions on others relationships. People like that should really just worry about themselves.

 

Staying a little more on topic. I personally wouldn't date a girl any more than 2 years younger than me and wouldn't date one older than myself either.

[Unpredictable Ranger 696]

Interesting info is that the young man began the relationship with the woman. From my observation of the couple (they're my friends), the man's maturity is more than his eldest brother's maturity level.

 

EDIT: I think I should edit the first post and include this in that one.

Edited May 26, 2013 by Fluffle Puff

[hawkflame 3,310]

I think that the idea that "age is just a number" is true to an extent, but at the same time, people with different age groups often have different life experiences and are looking for different things in their relationships, and it might be hard to find someone outside of their own age group that meets those needs.  I'd say let it play out.  If it works, it works, and if it doesn't, it doesn't. 

 

Though I don't blame the older brother for being suspicious of the older woman and being protective of his younger sibling.  He's the older brother; that kind of overprotective concern is only natural.

[TheRockARooster 51,400]

I think it's fine as long as the girl or boy isn't under 18, to me that's when it becomes a problem.

 

But 18 or older is fine.

Edited November 19, 2015 by TheRockARooster