My aunt was 25 when she married her 40 yo husband. They had 3 kids. She's now 55, he's 70. The difference is stark. She's full of pep and he's really slowed down. She doesn't have to take care of him, at least not yet. She knows that she will likely have a great many years alone, and feels sad about it often.

I forgot to add that my two GFs are married to men 17 and 21 years older, respectively. One of the husbands looks 7-10 years younger, so they appear to be of similar age as a couple.

There are couples where it sorta just works out that way (wife is much younger). Something I've noticed, however, is that the woman seems to age quickly compared to peers. Usually the wife looks/dresses/acts older. I wonder if this is due to having to mature quickly. If the guy has kids from a previous marriage, she probably assumes a motherly role quicker than expected. I also wonder if there is less pressure to maintain a youthful look (and maybe this isn't a positive) once you're around other couples where the women are older. Conversely, dating younger men usually causes us women to focus more on grooming and exercise to maintain a youthful look.

I recall going on a date at 24 with a 34yo and feeling self-conscious about the physically obvious age difference (he wasn't in the best of shape). I later dated a 42yo guy who looked 35 (I was 29). He was physically attractive and in shape, but I cringed at meeting his friends and their partners and sticking out. I wonder if I would have done like two girlfriends, who are still attractive, but dress and have personas now that are "older". One was 39...I thought she was mid-to-late 40s when we met. The other was 31 and I thought she was late 30s.

Anonymous wrote:We have friend who was 25 and married 37 year old. Now she's 37 and he's 49 and we always remark how old he looks. 40s are tough genetically on men.

That doesn't actually make any sense.

I (DW) was 25 when I married my then 39 year old husband. 5 years and 2 kids later, things are still happy (As happy as they can be with two small children and full time jobs and ZERO sleep ... LOL!)

We have friend who was 25 and married 37 year old. Now she's 37 and he's 49 and we always remark how old he looks. 40s are tough genetically on men.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This guy. Married my DW at age 40 when she was 26. It hasn't always been easy, no marriage is, but I'd do it all over again. And, no, I wasn't intentionally chasing after women in their 20s. It was just good fortune on my part that she came into my life.

Why is it hard?

Depends on what you mean by "it."

But if you actually read the post you'll see the words "hasn't always been easy." The word "hard" doesn't appear until your post.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume it's a serious question and respond that any marital issues are not related to the age difference.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This guy. Married my DW at age 40 when she was 26. It hasn't always been easy, no marriage is, but I'd do it all over again. And, no, I wasn't intentionally chasing after women in their 20s. It was just good fortune on my part that she came into my life.

how rich were you?

Let's just say if she married me for the money, the joke's on her.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This guy. Married my DW at age 40 when she was 26. It hasn't always been easy, no marriage is, but I'd do it all over again. And, no, I wasn't intentionally chasing after women in their 20s. It was just good fortune on my part that she came into my life.

Why is it hard?

Things go soft at that age lolz

We got married when I (DW) was 27 and he was 41. Now 30 and 44 with two kids. We started dating at 23/36 with the full intention that it would just be a fling because obviously we were at such different life stages that it was never going to last. Whoops!

Anonymous wrote:This guy. Married my DW at age 40 when she was 26. It hasn't always been easy, no marriage is, but I'd do it all over again. And, no, I wasn't intentionally chasing after women in their 20s. It was just good fortune on my part that she came into my life.

Why is it hard?

Anonymous wrote:This guy. Married my DW at age 40 when she was 26. It hasn't always been easy, no marriage is, but I'd do it all over again. And, no, I wasn't intentionally chasing after women in their 20s. It was just good fortune on my part that she came into my life.

how rich were you?

This guy. Married my DW at age 40 when she was 26. It hasn't always been easy, no marriage is, but I'd do it all over again. And, no, I wasn't intentionally chasing after women in their 20s. It was just good fortune on my part that she came into my life.

Any men on this board who in their forties married 20-28 year old women?