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Would you find this relationship ok. Age difference

32 replies

Hellofromtheothersideee · 30/12/2023 14:32

Male-24 years old
female-almost 31 years old.

OP posts:
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Rocksonabeach · 30/12/2023 17:12

Hellofromtheothersideee · 30/12/2023 14:32

Male-24 years old
female-almost 31 years old.

Not at all - this is normal.

mycatsanutter · 30/12/2023 17:11

That's the ages of me and DH when we got together , 18 years later happily married with a ds10. People did think it a big age gap when we first got together though.

Affinity18 · 30/12/2023 17:06

Between consenting adults, age gaps are of no concern in my opinion.

In my early-to-mid 20s, I had relationships with people my own age right up to 20+ years older than me. Each had their own merits and worked for the duration we wanted.

BeaRF75 · 30/12/2023 16:56

I don't see the problem. Assuming both parties are happy, then it's fine.

Redruby2020 · 30/12/2023 16:53

Spacemoon · 30/12/2023 14:40

Not generally.

I think at these ages it would depend massively on what stage of life they are at though.

For example, if the 31 year old has kids - I'd say it has less potential to work long term than if both people didn't have kids, or if both did. Are they both on a similar level playing field career/house wise too? If one has a decent career, mortgage etc and the other one hasn't long left uni and is still living with parents or renting with friends etc, that would also be a factor.

Of course this could be a factor in any age gaps, I just think 20s and 30s has more potential for big differences than perhaps 40s and 50s etc.

I was going to say similar.
I know of a situation where the guy is one or two years younger than the woman, still lived with family, and basically lives now between her place and the other place, had a child together since, plus two of his own from a previous relationship whom he used to cram in to one room at his other place and obviously had no plans to do otherwise and held out. As the gf was waiting for permanent housing, and when she got it he asked if he could use her place to have his kids for his contact time, so although I think yes, if you are to be serious you have to, to an extent take on one another's lives, as she has a child from previous too, but so yeah lol that is where he has his kids when he sees them, all crammed in to one small room with her eldest lol.

Mind you there are older men who are just as bad.

WaltzingWaters · 30/12/2023 16:50

It’s okay, yes. But if looking for this to be a long-term thing you obviously need to be on the same page. A 31yo woman may be more inclined for marriage and children very soon, whilst a 24yo may not be at that stage yet. But if you’re both wanting the same thing it’s absolutely fine.

margotrose · 30/12/2023 16:48

I don't think it's inappropriate but I can't imagine wanting to date a 24 year old in my thirties.

Midwinter91 · 30/12/2023 16:47

Are you serious, that’s no age difference??

TwoCoffeesPlease · 30/12/2023 16:47

Certainly unusual and it is definitely reasonable to be wary (I am 31 and can’t think of anything I would have in common with a 24yo) HOWEVER my SIL was 32 and my brother 24 when they met. We all found it a bit odd and assumed it would fizzle out but went along with it anyway…and they’ve been married for 6 years!

manoffthelead · 30/12/2023 16:46

Yes, of course.

Coconutter24 · 30/12/2023 16:44

How can anyone judge this based on 2 numbers without knowing their personalities. Are they similar stages in their life? Similar level of maturity?

PPTorPDF · 30/12/2023 16:43

Depends on the people I guess. DSS is 25 and lives at home with us. He's very immature. Has no idea of how to run a home, how real life finances work, organise bills, clean a house, cook, food shop etc. He comes home from work and plays and shouts on his PC with mates all night. I can't imagine a 31 year old woman being attracted to that.
Obviously not all 20 somethings are like that so depends on the person.

halfmice · 30/12/2023 16:42

Circularargument · 30/12/2023 16:40

God forbid anyone be " unusual " 🙄

Ridiculous narrow minded attitude

Your brain is only fully developed at 25. That is fact. I am under 25 so if anything I am slighting myself here. There are so many people out there I don’t know why most folks can’t find someone they connect enough with that is somewhat close to their own age.

Circularargument · 30/12/2023 16:40

halfmice · 30/12/2023 14:35

I think it’s unusual for age gaps larger than 5 years until the youngest person is into their 30s. Therefore no*

Edited

God forbid anyone be " unusual " 🙄

Ridiculous narrow minded attitude

VisiblyNot25 · 30/12/2023 16:39

I think that kind of age gap is absolutely fine at those ages.

Room2move · 30/12/2023 16:38

NC as specifics could identify me along with posts on usual username.
I'm mid-thirties and my partner and I have a bigger age gap than the one in the OP (I'm older). We have 2 kids, now living in the second house we have bought together. Also had a couple of "nothing wrong with it but you know it won't last" comments at first.
My ex before him was a year older than me, and the most horrible man-baby I have ever had the displeasure of knowing. Abusive, regular tantrums (and yes, I mean lying on the floor kicking and screaming) and incapable of looking after himself properly.
I've definitely learned that age (assuming all legal of course), is not the deciding factor.

LlynTegid · 30/12/2023 16:31

Is it OK, yes. Will it last, possibly not.

Tinkleberryz · 30/12/2023 16:29

It’s not too bad but I think the 20s is an age where you are still discovering who you are, under 25 the prefrontal cortex hasn’t wired up yet so I still consider that young adult. Easy to judge looking in though op.

Banditdog · 30/12/2023 16:23

I wouldn’t say I don’t think it is ok, as in it isn’t something that I would raise eyebrows at. But I think there is potential for problems in life plans not being aligned.

WillYouPutYourCoatOn · 30/12/2023 16:02

There will be exceptions, but I think at 24, men and women are in quite different levels of maturity.

I think a 24m is at the same maturity as a 20-21f. And a 31f is more like a 34m. So the difference in maturity is far greater than the physical age difference. Essentially he's at the place she was nearly a decade ago.

When I was 28, I dated a 41yr old and we were very compatible, you didn't notice the age diff at all. I am now 41 and to reverse it, the idea of a 28y old man as a partner would be inconceivable. We'd have nothing in common. I look at how he behaved and would cringe at me behaving like that now. It helped that he looked young and not like a sore thumb in a late twenties crowd, but I would absolutely have no interest in doing the things now, that I was doing at 28.

Fionaville · 30/12/2023 15:57

Is it OK? Yes.
I'd probably raise my eyebrows, but more out of surprise than in a judgey way.

ILikeItWhatIsIt · 30/12/2023 15:51

Why do you care if other people think it's ok or not? If a bunch of randoms off the internet tell you they think it's not ok, would you end it? Do you, no-one else matters

FrostyFlo · 30/12/2023 14:53

Things that I would consider if in the same situation.

  1. Where are you both career wise
  2. Disposable income.
  3. Who lives where - housing situation.
  4. Shared interests, life experiences.
  5. Where the relationship might go long-term, who wants what from it , possible children etc.
I'm sure there are also other potential pitfalls but you are two individuals who both bring different things to a relationship ( as with every relationship ) so only you know if it could work.
BonnieIou · 30/12/2023 14:43

At that age I'd have never have gone for someone so much younger, it feels like it's more obvious at that age.

LeggyLinda · 30/12/2023 14:41

Perfectly fine. Notwithstanding any other issues