Want to Date a Younger Man?

We've all heard the jokes about "cougars" when we speak of older women dating younger men. But in real life, it's not a joke at all. In fact, why shouldn't older women date younger men? It's more acceptable in society for older men to date younger women, although this is the subject of some jokes, too.

If there is an attraction between two people of different ages, who are we to judge? It's only by pursuing the people we are drawn to that we figure out where the relationship falls - a short-term romance or long-term commitment. And sometimes, the people who are meant to be lifelong partners are not who we expect - they could be much older or younger than us. But society doesn't always accept this.

Does that mean we should ignore our feelings, because we're expected to date someone closer to our own age? Not at all.

Following are some tips to keep in mind if you want to pursue that younger man:

Ignore the gossip. I'm sure plenty of people will have a lot to say about your new love interest. While I'm all for listening to friends and family if they have issues with the quality of character of the person you're dating, if they can't look past the age difference, they aren't being objective. It's up to you to really get to know him and decide for yourself how you feel.

Know what you want. Are you looking for a short-term fling or something more substantial? If a man is in his early twenties, likely he's not thinking about pursuing anything serious, but it's important to know. Be upfront about your intentions so you're both on the same page, and so you don't feel like you're misleading him.

Leave the past behind. He doesn't need to know all the details of your divorce or the problems you had in past relationships. Focus on the present and enjoying your time together now.

Be aware of your career differences. When you're boyfriend is younger than you, chances are he's not as far along in his career, either. Be sure to talk about this before it becomes a sore subject. Of course more experience provides a bigger paycheck and a better job title, but it doesn't mean that he can't have that in the future, too. It's great if he's supportive of you and your success, but if it becomes a problem for him then it's important to talk about it.