Questions 4:

Age is a very important factor in keeping a lasting relationship or marriage.

What do you think of a couple dating or marrying someone who is 40 years old
to his/her partner who’s 20? What about couples who are married at the age
ranging from 17 to 19 years old? What do you have to say about age in
relationship? Does it matter?

I agree, in the fact that maturity levels depend on life experiences and personal goals. Age is
just a number. A lot of people may say that age is a state of mind, that a person is only as old
as they feel. That is an upbeat and optimistic approach to aging; however the question is if
that applies when it comes to relationships. It is possible to have a secure and loving
relationship in which there is an age difference, if both people involved understand certain
issues that may arise and they can work together to resolve them.

The most important factor to understand is that although our bodies will show our age to a
certain degree, age is most significant when it relates to maturity. Whether you find yourself
to be the younger or the older person in a relationship, take into account whether your
maturity levels match. You may find in life that a fifty year old and a thirty year old can be
very similar in regard to their maturity level. This all depends on their life experiences,
personal outlooks and goals.

One dynamic that can make or break a relationship is the common ground that you share with
the other person. It is claimed that, most people will undoubtedly get along with someone
who has similar interests and hobbies. Furthermore, while it is healthy to have some of your
own personal interests, it is very helpful to the relationship that you share time together doing
things that you both enjoy. Think about whether the age difference will affect activities done
together; whether they be hiking, skiing or watching movies, these times spent together will
keep the relationship strong.

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In addition, another aspect to consider is if the age difference will interfere with your own
personal goals. Whether you want to concentrate on your career, have children or spend your
free time travelling; ask yourself if your partner age difference agrees with your way of life.
Discuss the future, not just the present situation. Some topics to consider are finances,
children, retirement goals and career choices. You may find it very useful to choose a time to
sit down and seriously talk about how the age difference may affect your lives one year, five
years and possibly twenty years down the road.

Most importantly, if you and your partner feel you are right for each other, age will not
matter. We all begin our quest for love as young adults and we live with the intention of
holding strong into our senior years. If two people are lucky enough people find each other, it
usually will not matter at which point in life they do so. When it comes to love, age is just a
number.

In conclusion, age gap relationships can and do work. The issue is not necessarily the ages of
the couple, but how they are willing to deal with important issues such as their motives for
being together, their goals in life and how they feel about having or not having children. As
long as their relationship is based on a solid foundation, rather than a fleeting fancy, they will
be successful in their marriage.

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Work Cited

 Website
Helium “Dating Dilemmas”
http://www.helium.com/knowledge/63207-does-age-matter-in-a-relationship

A Gap Relationship “Psychological Factors in Age Gap Relationships?”

http://www.suite101.com/content/age-gap-relationships-a60394

 Book
The Age-Wealth Relationship: A Cross-Section and Cohort Analysis
A. F. Shorrocks

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