There is no finishing line to perfection <33

Sunday, December 02, 2007

~Dating a Younger Man-- the pros and cons by Lauren Richards~

What with all the recent tabloid media interest in Hollywood cougars, it seems the older woman/younger man dynamic is having a resurgence. If you’re considering dating a younger guy yourself, you should first consider the pros and cons of that kind of relationship. It seems that every upside has its mirror-image downside. For instance…
Pro: Compared with older men, young guys are much less set in their ways and more open to new ideas. If you suggest doing something offbeat or kind of girly that your young guy probably isn’t all that into, like going to a cat show or checking out the local art museum, he is much more likely to take a laid back, “Sure, what the heck” attitude toward the idea than a grumpy gramps type.
Con: He’ll expect you to return the favor, and you’ll end up getting dragged to a White Stripes concert or a video gaming tournament.
Pro: Three words -- a cheerful disposition. It's a hard but true fact that with age come disappointments, tragedies and all the assorted difficulties of life. Almost inevitably, we all become more sober and serious as the years fly by, and a gradual detritus of sadness accumulates in our souls like the layer of sludge at the bottom of a pot of coffee that's been sitting on the burner too long. By contrast, the young still possess a deep streak of genuine optimism and a strong sense of possibility in life, which is to a large degree contagious, and being around a youthful guy will do wonders to help lift your spirits.
Con: The flip side of that optimism is naiveté and callowness. Don't expect to be having many deep, soul-searching conversations with Carefree McYoungfellow.
Pro: You want sex? You've got it, baby! A young man has testosterone practically oozing out of his ears, which means he’ll want to do it ALL the time -- morning, noon, night, in bed, out of bed, in the back row of the movie theater, over the phone and during commercial breaks while you’re watching Grey’s Anatomy. Really, he’ll look for ANY opportunity. You won’t be able to so much as bend over to pick something up off the floor without him taking it as an invitation to get frisky.
Cons: First off, you may or may or may not be up for that much lovin’. Second, all that excess testosterone also boosts a guy’s energy level, which makes him more likely to spend his time out and about, playing pick-up basketball games or windsurfing, leaving less time for him to spend with you.
Pro: You'll impress your girlfriends. Just by being with a younger guy, you'll seem like a younger, more vibrant and vivacious person yourself. Plus, they'll think you must have something special going for you -- some extra smattering of charm or sex appeal that enables you to ensnare young studs.
Con: They might be jealous and resentful. Don't be surprised if you find you don't get invited to get-togethers with the girls as much as you used to.
Possible pro: Maybe a boff-buddy is all you're looking for right now, anyway. If that's the case, enjoy it while it lasts.
Con: You might be just fulfilling his older-woman fantasy, and the relationship could stay purely physical and never become serious.
Pro: In a best-case scenario, the closeness in age with any kids you might have can be a real plus, helping them to get along quite swimmingly with your guy. (Of course, in a worst-case scenario, he gets along TOO well with your daughter.)
Con: If you have grown-up or nearly grown-up kids, you'll feel more than a little funny about introducing them to a boyfriend that's only a little older, or possibly even a little younger than they are.
One last note. Young is one thing, but there's no excuse for robbing the cradle. Whatever happens, you absolutely do NOT want to be the next Mary Kay Letourneau. Some underage teens look a lot older than they are, so one way or another, get a gander at the guy's driver's license before you so much as give him a peck on the cheek. I'm not even kidding.

On Pointe @)~~

3:37 PM