Should You Be Dating an Older Woman?

George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin. Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. There’s no mistake that older men have a thing for dating younger women. But if you’re an older man who doesn’t give an older woman, or a woman who is the same age as you, a second glance, then you are seriously missing out. Dating an older woman can show you that you have more in common with them than you realize.

If you’ve been dating younger women for a while and something just seems off, here are a few reasons why a woman your own age or older could be a better fit for you:

1. She can laugh at herself.
An older woman generally has more confidence. She no longer lives with the insecurities that plagued her in her twenties and thirties. Now she’s so comfortable within her own skin that she’s able to poke fun at herself and roll with whatever life brings her way. The bonus of being with someone who’s totally comfortable with herself? She instantly makes you comfortable to be yourself too.

2. She’s strong.
An older woman has led a full life, and that includes many trials and tribulations, which have undoubtedly made her stronger. Whether she’s held her own in the workplace or held her head high after a tumultuous breakup, an older woman comes with the inner strength that makes for a rock-solid partnership.

3. You have more in common.
A woman who’s from your same generation will understand you in a way that someone younger just can’t. If you’ve been married before and/or have children, an older woman most likely has experienced the same or similar, and can relate to your family background. Plus, because you’re the same age, she’ll get your pop cultural references and remember songs and movies from your era that won’t make you feel, well, old.

4. She’s got your back.
An older woman has a tightknit group of best friends that have experienced life and all of its up and downs together. With the drama of their younger years behind them, her friendships are borderline family now. The trust and emotional-intimacy building skills that she’s developed with her friends easily transfers to her relationship with you. Simply put: she can be both your lover and your best friend.

5. She doesn’t need saving.
Most likely, an older woman is financially stable, and isn’t looking for a sugar daddy. She can, literally, afford to be selective about whom she chooses to spend time with. You don’t have to worry about saving an older woman from distress, either emotionally or financially. If an older woman is actively dating you, it’s because she enjoys you, not your money.

6. She has time for you.
Because she’s already climbed the corporate ladder and/or no longer hears the ticking of a biological clock, an older woman has the time to devote more energy to a relationship. Because she doesn’t have to answer to little ones or worry about breaking the glass ceiling, she’s open to new adventures and enjoying life with just you.

7. She can grow old with you.
Let’s be honest: as we age, our bodies change. In the past you might have been embarrassed to show your graying hair, wrinkles, or expanding girth to a younger woman. An older woman, on the other hand, totally understands what you’re going through because she’s undergoing major changes herself. The two of you can weather the aging process, while learning and laughing through it, together.

Undoubtedly a younger woman might seem more attractive, but if you were to date an older woman, you might discover that they’re on similar page as you, which will make romance, passion, and commitment a whole lot easier and way more exciting.