Dating For The Over 50s
You are a 50-something woman and you are now contemplating the idea of dating someone. But a million thoughts cross your mind while you set out to do so. Dating is meant for the young – says who? John Galsworthy said, “Love has no age, no limit; and no death.” I say, just like love has no age, neither does dating! Much like the other things in life, meeting and dating new people in life should be a welcome thing, no matter your age. Although there are certain things you need to keep in mind while playing the dating game again if you have crossed the golden jubilee age line already. And yes, I agree that it is not an easy thing to do since you are apprehensive about a lot of things and also quite intimidated by the entire process of meeting, dating, and falling in love again. But if you have braved your thoughts and decided to give it a shot, here’s some dating advice for women over 50 that will do you some good.
If there is one person who comes to my mind when I think of an awesome 50-plus woman, it would be the character of Samantha Jones in the movie Sex and the City. The charm, charisma, and the self-confidence that she exudes are nothing short of amazing. She is an independent and gorgeous woman who knows what she wants from her men and gets exactly that. Of course, the woman she plays in the movie has more than love on her mind, but even if things go out of hand, she handles them with élan. She carries herself well and even after coming across various unpleasant men, she stands tall. But then again, not everyone can be like Samantha Jones and some dating tips need to be practiced when you are dating over 50.
This over-50 dating pool makes it easier to build trusting relationships with age-appropriate date prospects. The platform’s in-depth profiles and personalized match ratings can help senior adults learn a lot about each other before they even enter into a conversation. Silver Singles is a patient guide on the road to love. Dating after 50 can be intimidating, especially after a divorce. Find out what to expect, how to start dating again & join our community of like-minded women. Dating in your 40s, 50s is a common practice nowadays. As there is the whole bunch of reasons why senior generation suffers from loneliness. Among these there are divorces after decades of marriage, the death of spouse, and, of course, constant prejudice that the marriage is the most foolish thing in life. Tinder for Seniors is the best dating app like Tinder to chat, meet and date. Browse older singles who are over 50 and 60 in your area for FREE. Now is the Time. A dating site that not only understands what it is to be over 50, but also celebrates this exciting chapter of our lives. At OurTime.com, we honor the freedom, wisdom and appreciation for life that only comes with time. We also recognize that what people want in their 50s, 60s and beyond is often very different from.
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So, here are 12 essential pieces of dating advice for women to be kept in mind while dating over 50.
1. Don’t look for commitment immediately
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When you start dating over the age of 50, you are obviously looking for a mature relationship. Since you already took the big leap, you want it to work out well and have a future. But don’t look for commitment immediately because things like that take time. What the other person thinks about you is also very important. So, go with the flow and let things unravel by themselves.
2. Talk more about you (rather than your children or ex-husband/partner)
You might have a past behind you and that could have been wonderful. You might still miss your children and/or ex-husband/partner. Or you might want to talk about your children living with you. But, it would be a good thing to avoid such topics at the onset. Concentrate more on talking about yourself, and that is going to encourage the two of you to get to know each other better.
3. Don’t act like a mother
That tender, caring attitude of a mother with a certain amount of control-freakishness might have crept into your personality as a woman. But please don’t carry it along on a date! Remember the guy you are dating is also almost about your age. So, don’t give him life lessons on how to be disciplined and healthy. And even if he isn’t your age, it can be very irritating and might possibly ruin things for good!
4. Don’t pretend, be honest
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One of the major senior dating rules is to completely drop any pretensions. At this age and level of maturity, you shouldn’t pretend about any part of your personality. Be honest and expect the same from your date. Putting your cards on the table is the best bet now.
5. Dress and act your age
So, you thought the bright red dress that you once wore in your younger years will still woo the guys? Well, think again! Use your personality to impress your date. Look good, but don’t overdo your makeup or accessories – just look natural!
6. Don’t sound too desperate
You might be missing out on some action in your life right now, and might want to satisfy your romantic needs with someone soon. This is a normal human instinct, but it is wise not to be too expressive about it too soon. Being patient with such things is always advisable rather than regretting it later. Know each other through and through, and only then take it to the next level. When things ought to happen, they will without effort.
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7. Take it slow when it comes to decisions
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One of my best pieces of dating advice for women is not to hurry when making decisions. Give yourself time to ponder upon the current situation, the relationship, and the consequences of taking a step further. You might have obligations and liabilities that mean as much to you as much as the relationship does at this point in time. Settle your issues with others and also with yourself. If someone really loves you, he will wait for you so that you don’t have to carry the excess baggage of your past into the future.
8. Don’t expect or demand too much
When it comes to relationships, it is always good to keep your expectations low at the beginning, before you know what direction the relationship will take. Also, demanding behavior is not much appreciated by your partner, especially when you have just started dating. I know it is difficult to settle with this fact, but believe me, in the long run it will be helpful and one fine day you might be pleasantly surprised!
9. Don’t act too independent, let him do things for you
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Through the years, life has made you tough and now you are a strong and independent woman. But if you really want someone in your life at this point in time, you have to create space for him. You must let your guy do some things for you and let him show that he cares. It’s scary to let someone do that, I know, because you think what if it doesn’t work and he isn’t there tomorrow? But just for once, push those thoughts away and acknowledge the attention someone is willing to give you.
10. Accept them as they are
A person is the way they are because of their life experiences, which you may not be familiar with. If you are dating someone almost your age now, do not expect that you can change their lifestyle or behavior because that’s a part of their personality by now. You would not want anyone to change you, whether it is for better or worse, so why not accept them the way they are? Make yourself comfortable with each other’s way of life and you will have a happy time being together.
11. Listen to what they want or expect from you
Yes, communication is a two way street. So talk and let your partner know about yourself, your likes and dislikes, and what you expect out of the relationship. That will give you a clear picture of what they expect from you and you can then be prepared to plan and manage things better. My dating advice for women would be to listen, because listening is an appreciated art and helps solve a number of problems. So, let it make its way into your relationship and you will certainly enjoy the fruits later.
12. Don’t settle for less just because your over 50
Dating For The Over 50s -
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So, you think you are over 50 and now you will just take what you get. Here’s a big ‘no’ to that thought. No woman should ever settle for anything less than what she deserves. You are a beautiful woman, and you should understand that you deserve to be loved and respected. If the person you are with doesn’t value the person you are, then it’s clearly not worth it.
Suggested read: 10 reasons why younger men dating older women is totally rad
Your happiness depends a lot on how you define it. If you know what you want from life, even if you don’t get all of it, you know you have given your best. After crossing a certain threshold in life, priorities become very different. You value yourself more than anything else, and that makes you ready to take on the difficulties posed by the rest of your life. It is of course not necessary that everything will work out as you had planned. In fact, over 50 dating can be more challenging than those teenage romances (where you can blame everything on the age) or the mistakes you make in your 20s. Now you are entirely responsible for the choices that you make and when things get murky, you have to deal with them all by yourself. But hope is one thing that keeps us alive and trying never hurts. It may take a little time, but it will definitely be worth all the struggle and patience.
‘You will die a thousand times before you wake up feeling alive in your own skin. You will love all of the wrong hearts before you realize the strength in your own,’ (D. Antoinette Foy) is a good quote to keep in mind at this point in your life. So, all you beautiful women over 50, shed your inhibitions and with the help of the above dating tips, go date some beautiful men, who are just like you – beautiful inside and out!
Featured image source: Shutterstock
For those women over 50 who are reentering the dating scene, it’s hard to know what to expect. In many ways, dating men is still the same as when you were in your twenties – communication remains key, intimacy is still awkward – but, with age and experience, comes some key differences.
We asked dating experts, Valerie Gibson, author of Later Dater: A Guide for Newly Single Women Over 50, and Ronnie Ann Ryan, the Dating Coach for Women, about the six things they should know about men in their 50s.
He wants someone close to his age. Despite what Hollywood May-December pairings suggest, Gibson says a man in his 50s wants to date a woman close to his own age. “Most men are looking for women closer to their own age because they understand and have had similar experiences,” says Gibson. “They know women over 50 understand the aging process and men who are like themselves. Men want support from someone who does understand them. They don’t just want a trophy wife.”
He has emotional baggage. Men over 50 have lived a life already — many of whom are either widowed or divorced — which means he might be carrying some residual trauma from his past. “If he has kids or an ex-wife in the picture, the drama isn’t going to get better,” says Ryan. “You have to decide if you want that. A lot of drama doesn’t create love. You have to ask, ‘is that worth it?’”
Gibson puts it another way: “Yes, he will have considerable baggage, but so do you. That’s not to be forgotten. You might have been married and/or have children, so it’s important to remain flexible on these issues.” But, as Ryan advises, be sure you’re still his priority.
He craves emotional support. Men who find themselves single in their 50s have often been married for many years, so they continue to desire the companionship and emotional support they once shared. However, his longing for closeness might not be all what it seems. “Men like and appreciate feminine support,” Ryan says. “They’ll look for emotional support with a woman and she’ll think, ‘oh, he must like me,” and often times, he just needs the emotional support. He will pursue her through text and online just for that. The woman will then assume they are in a relationship, but they’re really not.” What to do? Clarify your relationship status, stat.
He might be old-fashioned. Men in their 50s come from a time when it was expected of them to make the first move. “Let him ask you out, contact you again for the next date and be the pursuer,” advises Ryan. If you enjoyed his company, let him know. “Tell him you had a good time and thank him for choosing a good restaurant or whatever he did,” says Ryan. “Appreciation is important. And offer a compliment – tell him he’s funny, easy to talk to – whatever comes to mind.”
Dating In My 50s
He wants to get intimate. “Men in their 50s do enjoy sex. A lot of people think men and women over 50 don’t enjoy it, but it’s not true,” says Gibson. However, Gibson says it’s vital to communicate what you’re looking for whether it’s a relationship or something more casual. She also notes the rampant STDs within the 50+ age group. People over 50 are having multiple partners without using protection, because many are not used to using contraception, such as condoms.
Ryan advises to hold off on intimacy until the relationship is monogamous, or at least the sixth date, if you’re wondering whether he will stick around after the deed. “Watch for consistency in behavior,” she says. “What he does is what matters most, not what he says he’ll do.” And keep in mind that what 50-year-old men want in bed is different than younger men.
He might have health issues. “A lot of women don’t think about health issues. They think they’ll meet the next George Clooney. He’s going to be fit as a fiddle and all these dreamy things,” says Gibson. “But men over 50 do have health issues, and some of them are quite serious. You may come across diabetes, heart problems, erectile dysfunction…You have to ask questions and decide what suits your needs and desires.”
Dating For Over 50s Australia
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