BellaOnline Forums Relationships Marriage Mariah Carey Marries 27 yr old

Very nice picture Wendy.

My husband is 16 years younger than I am. We met at work, my divorce from 1st husband had just been finalized and he had just left a committed relationship. We clicked as friends immediately, but the age difference was a big stumbling block to anything more. We got a lot of negative feedback from co-workers and family about our friendship, so it took over a year of being best friends before we were willing to take the relationship further.

At first I got a lot of questions like: "is he your son?" But mentally and emotionally our ages meet somewhere in the middle and to us it's just a number. My DH has always been "old" for his age, much more mature than others of the same age, and I have my immature moments so it works. We've been together for 15 years and married for 8. Sometimes it surprises us both that it's been that long.

Many times we both wish we could've been closer in age, but we were meant for each other, so we just accept it. I get a lot of responses like "you go girl" from women who have never met him, but people who know us just accept us for ourselves. And, yes, there is definitely a double standard on May/December couples. It's fine for an older man and younger woman, but every one has a negative opinion about both people in a relationship where the woman is much older, and feel compelled to tell you about it. LOL But it works for us and we've been together so long that we don't get much of that anymore, either.

My in-laws were understandably disappointed at first (the no grandchildren thing), but they were very good to me and my children and now accept them as grandchildren. They were way better than I expected, and I will always be grateful for that. In fact they accepted me far sooner than my family accepted him. But it's all water under the bridge now.

Ultimately no one can ever know what works for other people, or what will work for you in the future, you just have to know yourself and go with your heart.

that is great that it's worked out so well for you!

It always bothers me that some shows call women in this position "cougars" as if they are odd predators of some sort. It should be natural for a man and woman who care for each other to be together, whatever their age, as long as they are both adults.

Again I always come back to how hard it is to find a true life match. If you find someone that is great for you, you should treasure it.

Blessings to Wendy and Helen!

The name cougar for older woman/younger man,came about because the real female cougar is usually older then the male she chooses as a mate. The reason she chooses younger is simply that the younger male is stronger and has a better chance of fathering healthy cubs.It all has to do with producing cubs that have a good chance to survive and thrive.

I find it totally ridiculous that people have to have anything to say about who we date, live with, or marry. It isn't only age related.

I personally have never cared what anyone says about any aspect of my life. If I'm pushed too far by nosy people who offer their unwnated opinions too often I have been known to say:
"Unless you pay my bills or sleep in my bed, your opinion is not wanted."

My mother has a saying...she has a few actually...

"There are only two men that I listen to, the one that signs my paycheck and the one who put the ring on my finger...and even then I may be selectively deaf."

Your mom is the best! That is a great saying!

I wish them all many years of happiness.

I wish them happiness too. It is definitely possible no matter what petty people say.

My uncle has been happily married to a woman 20 years older for about 8 years and they were together for about 5 years before that. She's a kindergarten teacher and very young at heart while he's always been older than his years.