TL;DR: I’m 28F, dating 39M. We’re serious and stable, thinking long term. I want to keep our relationship healthy and make sure he feels loved, heard, and respected. Any tips from people in happy long-term or age-gap relationships?
I’m 28F, he’s 39M. We’ve been dating seriously for over a month and are now in a committed relationship, planning for a future together. (marriage is on the table).
We both have separate homes, stable incomes, individual lives and hobbies, so things are balanced materially. He’s in therapy for depression. I am not but grieving my mom’s death which actually happened at the beginning of our dating phase. He has been amazing and sticked around. Feels like he’s the one.
Emotionally too, we’re very compatible, communication is the best I ever had, but I want to make sure I’m growing into the best version of myself for him, and for us.
I know men can sometimes hold things in or feel unheard not cherished over time, and I’d really like to avoid that dynamic. (Seen a lot of nagging/ ungratefulness from my mom to my dad growing up and afraid to become that.) If you’re in a happy long-term relationship (especially with a bit of an age gap), what’s worked for you?
How do you keep the connection alive, make your partner feel loved and respected, and handle differences in life experience or “big” age gap?
I’d love to hear honest advice, especially from both sides (men and women).