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Dating In Your 40s, 50s & 60s 

Posted: 2008-02-22 17:10:01

By Julie Taylor 
Courtesy of Match.com’s
Happen magazine

Want love and relationship advice that speaks specifically to the life stage you’re in? Read on for wisdom you need now to suit any and every age.

There are certain things about dating that, no matter your age, remain the same, from the butterflies you feel when you meet someone cute to that painfully sweet moment when you exchange your first I love you’s. And yet let’s be honest: There are also major differences between hooking up fresh out of college, looking for a mate during mid-life, or finding a companion when you’re 60-something. Goals shift. Priorities change. To help you navigate each decade, we consulted leading dating and relationship experts to pinpoint the common desires and pitfalls of each age group — and got their advice on how you can maximize your dating experience along the way. 


Dating in Your 40s 
Since half of all first marriages fail, the 40-something singles scene is flooded with divorced folk who are back on the market — with somewhat rusty dating skills. Or people who can be feeling ready for the ”real thing” — if only they could find The One.

Brush up on your dating skills
If you’re dating after a split, ease into it, says Beatty Cohan, co-author of ‘For Better, For Worse, Forever: Discover the Path to Lasting Love’. Make small talk with the person next to you in the grocery store line, or go out on a ”practice” date with a friend, asking them to be brutally honest about how you come across. You may also be way overdue for a makeover. ”This doesn’t mean you have to get a facelift,” she says, but it just might be time to trade in that ten-year-old pair of stonewashed, baggy jeans for a pair that actually fits.

Don’t date too soon after divorce
People frequently date too soon after a divorce, warns Parmelee. ”They need to allow themselves time to heal and recognize how they contributed to the demise of their relationship.” That way, history is less likely to repeat itself, and they won’t fall into the same destructive patterns. To gauge if you’re ready, ask yourself these questions, suggests Judsen Culbreth, author of ‘The Boomers Guide to Online Dating:’ Do you have an accepting attitude of the opposite sex — that is, do you not think all men are jerks or that all women are gold-diggers? Are you engaged in activities and interests besides your work and kids? Do you believe you have control and can shape what happens in your love life? If you answered yes to these questions, then you may indeed have the right attitude.