Mature Dating: What to Expect

The best thing about mature dating is that daters in this category are usually stable, experienced adults who have had long-term relationships before and are ready to commit again.

Why it's easier to date older

Mature daters have certain characteristics that are very hard to find in younger adults. Many of them are already financially established and therefore tend to attach less importance to wealth. By this age, they already know that money doesn't buy happiness. Mature daters also have more wisdom. They have learned many lessons, collected both good and bad memories, and have probably established family relationships and community networks.

Younger people, meanwhile, have probably never been in committed, long-term relationships and have no idea what it takes to make love work. Many of them are just starting to look for the "right" person. They tend to have unrealistic expectations and may set very high standards on who they want to be with. Dating a younger person is also tricky because as an older and more experienced adult, you are no longer in the same life stage as a younger partner. He or she might want children, for example, when you already have several and no longer want more. Perhaps a younger partner wants to settle down, while you want to travel and enjoy your new found time and financial freedom.

It's not all roses, though. Some mature daters also have hang ups. Perhaps their previous relationship ended or failed because of something that causes then great pain up to now - perhaps infidelity, unpleasant personal habits or addictions, or lack of shared interests. Their experience may have already instilled caution; they want to avoid similar situations again, causing them to b less spontaneous and very guarded about expressing their feelings. Many people who go back into the mature dating game also tend to avoid daters who remind them of their former partner/s.

Some of the people in the mature dating market think that they have already experienced the "love of their life," impeding them from finding a new, successful relationship because of the high standards by which they measure all other people.

How to succeed in mature dating

The key to successful mature dating is to be open-minded. Not everyone is the same. The more you celebrate diversity, the more appreciative you'll be of other people who, like you, are also looking for love at this stage in their lives.

Remember that getting to know someone takes time. Be ready to allot some of your time getting to know possible partners. More personal history needs to be exchanged between two mature daters. You might get tired hearing about painful divorce histories and family issues. It really takes a lot of energy. The more prepared you are to invest time into really knowing someone, the more successful you will be.

Finally, work on your own issues. Do you tend to compare everyone to your former partner? Then stop and remember that people are different. Do you tend to go on and on about your failed relationships? Then make an effort to be more positive. Start on a clean slate, and you'll attract other positive people.