Enjoy life. But do keep in mind where the head of a 25 year old man is. He's with an older woman. You are with a younger man so enjoy that. It makes you feel younger now and makes him older now. My concern is with you asking this question. I hope you dont feel something that he doesnt. Also, If you do feel something along the lines of things being permanent, (understanding that I dont know how long you have been together) , what are these feelings based on. Is it sex, you feeling younger, you making him feel older, or does it have something concrete and carry some substance worthy of to be called a relationship.

Here's what you are battling with in your mind: society's opinion and your own internal measure with an underpinning of societal conditioning. Our understanding of appropriate age gaps between marital partners is a social more. Even further, it is one that has changed over time. For example, in the "Laura Ingalls" days, it was quite common for a man of 16 to marry a woman of 13, build a house and begin having children. As well a more mature man of 25-29, who had lost a wife in childbirth, to marry a 13-15 year old woman. Of course during this time people were singularly focused on an agriculture based economy and tended to live and die in the same general area for the majority of their lives. The exception cases being those found in couple who moved west. And still once they arrived, most lived and died in the town they helped found. During the industrial age, we experienced increased mobility and the socially acceptable age for marriage climbed, but not by much as many were already PROMISED by 16 and betrothed by 18. As mobility increased, we moved into a era where social mores adaptation changed to 18 years of age as the "socially acceptable" age of permission and consent for marriage. We are now two "ages" past that - the technology age and now living in the information age. In this age, globalization and global access are far more affordable -- positive impact of each age's economic cycle is at a peak now -- and access to those of other cultures has expanded significantly. With this expansion of racial intermingling, there has also been an increased understanding the emotional intelligence quotient. With all this background to serve a jumping off point – even though the influence of a male centric and dominated hierarchical society is not touched upon above, I say ... If the 25 year old is very mature -- which though less common in a male of this age, than a female -- and the 42 year old still feels 35ish, then the match is no more drastic than that of an actual 7-yr gap. If you both communicate well and each know that you have found in one another the top ten necessary compatibility needs in a long term marital relationship, more than half the battle is over. The two major hurdles that you will have to overcome from the outside are: 1-Will there be familial support for the relationship ? If yes, great. If no, this will add significant strain to the couple's relationship. For though we choose our spouses, we never choose our family and will always remain emotionally attached to a desire to "make them proud". This will require each one of you to display and use significant emotional stability and maturity. 2-Do you live, work and volunteer in a community that is forward thinking enough to avoid being ostracized ? If not, move. Today, there are many communities built around diversity and differences who are more likely to be readily or grudgingly accepting than the more conservative communities. From the inside, there are four major hurdles and several added considerations that will impact the success of the relationship; one of which I stated earlier: 1-Emotional Maturity: If you have never explored the implications of maturity in a relationship, start now, together. 2-Children: Does the 25-yr old now or in the future want children ? Is the 42-yr old still capable of carrying - we know all the biological technologies that make later life pregnancy possible, but this is a heart issue. If both are completely happy with whatever the answer is great. If one is not, but goes along hoping to change minds and move mountains later ? This does not happen - mountains are called that for a reason, the are mostly immovable. This approach will not work. If one gives in to please the other, over time the added burden of childcare and rearing will fall upon the one who most desired the introduction of the child into the relationship and thereby create added strain and possible resentment. It is true that the desire of a woman to have and carry her own children or care for those she adopts is ingrained and immovable. To this same end, many men desire "flesh of their flesh". Ask yourself individually: "Have I dreamed of having kids all my life ? Of being a parent all my life ?" Most life long dreams never die, hence their description. 3-Our Society: I know we talked about the outside, but this is from an internal perspective. American society, the only one I think I know well enough to report on, has a lower level of respect and value for the older generations. You will not find couples who mirror your interests and age gap readily. You will find that he is a 55 year old man with 35 and 40 year old women approaching and pushing themselves at him, during a time when at 72 yrs of age, no matter how much you work to stay physically fit, you will not be able to compete with a much younger woman in energy, drive - both types of, and physical appearance. This is a question of integrity, morality and covenant for the 25-yr old. It is a hard one to answer, because it is layered atop the emotional maturity of the individual. It is certainly something to be considered. At 67-yrs when you are ready to retire, travel, read and enjoy the fruits of many years of labor, the 50-yr old will most likely be at the apex of their career (or just reaching his 2nd half) and be loathe to spend significant time periods away from the pursuit of these interests or trades. At 85-yrs when you (42-yr old) are wanting to become more sedentary, travel less, relax more nd may be starting to address the general health issues of an aging body, the 68-year old will be ready to travel for extended time frames, interested in staying very active, etc. Think about how this picture will look if either of you experiences a catastrophic illness. Are you both spiritually bound to a belief system that will be the glue when the human flesh is weak ? 4-Reality: 53% of divorces take place in couples who have been married 10-15 years and 40% of those married for 5-10 years. For you as a couple this translates to age 52-57 for the 42-yr old and age 35-40 for the 25-yr old.) The first 5 years tend to be divorce-free, and if a marriage survives more than 20 years it is unlikely to end in divorce. The main causes in 2004 (2003) were: • Extra-marital affairs - 27% (29%) • Family strains - 18% (11%) • Emotional/physical abuse - 17% (10%) • Mid-life crisis - 13% (not in 2003 survey) • Addictions, e.g. alcoholism and gambling - 6% (5%) • Workaholism - 6% (5% According to this survey, men engaged in extra-marital affairs in 75% (55%) of cases; women in 25% (45%). In cases of family strain, women's families were the primary source of strain in 78%, compared to 22% of men's families. Emotional and physical abuse were more evenly split, with women affected in 60% and men in 40% of cases. In 70% of workaholism-related divorces it was men who were the cause, and 30% women. The 2004 survey found that in 93% of cases divorces were petitioned by women, very few of which were contested; 40% in 5-10 * Statistics from an annual study in the UK by management consultants Grant Thornton http://www.grant-thornton.co.uk/pages/press_room-press_releases-extra-martial_affairs_remain_biggest_cause_for_divorce_as_major_increases_in_.html Other US based statistics are available from the US Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov/prod/2005pubs/p70-97.pdf Finally, all the above is only food for thought ... fodder as one would say. Talk it all through over significant periods of time, spend time considering your answers in solace and together as a couple. It sounds like you alrady have the biggest key to a relationship locked down: Communication ! Find your relational common ground on these issues and with maturity, responsibility, integrity and full opened eyes, step forward ... in whichever direction your hearts lead you ! Considerately yours ... from one 42 yr-old woman and her 25-yr old male, both professionally successful with the added consideration of differing racial backgrounds and children. Be blessed !

Well, if this could boost your confidence, I know of 3 couples in which the guy is at least 10 years younger than the gal and guess what, They are doing fantastic, I guess you just got to make peace with yourself about it and maybe all these peoples' opinions won't affect you as much...

Do not be concerned with the opinions of others. In my past I dated a woman 13 years older than me and we received many comments about the age difference. We learned not listen to them. They did not understand the relationship the way we did. Also many were simply envious of what we had. Can it work? Absolutely. The only time you should be worried about the age difference is when one of you has doubt or uncertainty. Then talk to each other about the issues. If you "communicate fabulously" you will have no trouble handling this at all. A word of advice to 42: do not feel like you know everything because your older. There is much you can learn from 25. A word of advice to 25: view 42 as your woman, not a mother figure. In closing, if you focus too much on the age difference then a problem it will be. Forget it about and enjoy your relationship. I wish you the best.

You know, I would normally say your relationship is doomed... but out of all the celebrity marriages that have taken place, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore are still together and they do seem to be making a go of things despite the age difference. If your boyfriend of 25 is not looking for children for you to birth, then I think this could work out. Just discuss all the obstacles openly and see where it takes you. I wish you both the best.

there was 17 years between my mum and dad and 17 years between my grandma and grandad, my nan and grandad stayed together till the end with no problems and my mum and dad would still be together today but my mum passed away. i think age is just a number. people act differently no matter what age they are people grow up quicker than others etc. you are both adults so i dont see the problem, if you are happy its other peoples problem not yours.

I am 40 and my husband is 64. I am black and he is Jewish. He is the love of my life. We grew up in two totally different generations, with different types of music, and half a country apart (Chicago and Florida.) My first husband was exactly my age. We grew up four towns apart. He was a bastard. The way I think about it, my first husband and I had shared experiences. That's worth something in a relationship. But my current husband is kind of exotic to me. He can teach me things and share experiences with me that are totally foreign to me. And I can do the same for him. (We were talking today about rap, and where it came from: I was a freshman in high school when Sugar Hill Gang came out....) Age is not all it's cracked up to be.

Trust me you are doing fine and all these folks who answered your question are most definitely giving some sound advice!! Nothing better than good love!!! God Bless and keep on going strong!!!

I am 48 and my husband of which I married twice!!! is 27. We have a beautiful daughter and I am black, he is Asian. Needless to say, this is not the "norm". However, I love him dearly. In the beginning we met when he was 18 and got married 10 months later. I had to fight my own feelings about our age difference and I wasnt going to marry him. My family stopped speaking to me, while his family was supportive. My husband did not accept the "No"...and kept loving me and his persistence paid off. We were married and after one year I had our daughter. The following year he got involved with drugs and women and became abusive and I divorced him. Then I got a good job and moved overseas. While we were away, he ended up having a kid with some crack head but he continued to live life going from house-to-house like a rolling stone...I was overseas and came home for visits. Every time we saw him, our love was still apparent. I had to fight it and ignore it. We kept in touch and he cleaned up his act and got off drugs. We maintained communications while I was overseas. After being apart for seven years, the last time we returned to the states he came to visit us and never left. Then I had to leave again for one year but we got married a second time, before I left. When we left again, he went back to his old ways but when I came home which is now...he came to us again. Now we live in the US and are happy. We have our own personal struggles, like for instance, he is 27, and suffers with impotence. He drinks beers daily and his libido is low. He wont talk about it and gets angry when I bring it up but it is straining our marriage and I dont know what to do. Our problems in our marriage was not due to our age difference, because people of all ages faces issues. What successes we share is our love for each other. Our acceptance of our differences, like I dont like all of his music choices but I accept that it is 'age-appropriate' and I accept it and him; and the same for him. He doesnt like all of my old school rock-and-roll and yes black people like rock-and-roll too, but he accepts my choices though he doesnt have to like them. I respect him and I learn alot from him. He is the nicest person. He helps me clean home and cook and care for our daughter and he is loving and sensitive even though he is a "tough guy". Point is, yes you can work and it is an individual thing. People in this world can be nice or mean. You cant change the world but you can change yourself. Do what makes you happy, as you only have one life to live. Follow your heart and your mind. Do you feel happy with him? Is he good to you? Then be happy with him and walk free. Ignore the mean people. People can NOT understand things that are different to their own upbringing or personal experiences; which is sad, as we are supposed to have some sort of intelligence, yet we still have yet to figure these things out. I love everyone. I prefer white men but ended up with an Asian guy but it really doesnt matter. Be happy. Enjoy your life and cherish every happy and wonderful moment in it. Send a note and let us know how it all worked out for you. Take good care.

It seems like early twenty-something guys can really like the attention of an older woman. As time passes it can change. The real test is if he is into the immature conquest of the mature woman, or if he is quite mature and you have a common bonding. Only you can feel this out.

There is no age in love whatsoever if you both feel good with eachother ignore when people around you bring this up. It is something that must be felt by you and your partner. Don't care about what other people tell you. It's just the two of you and if you love eachother then it's fine. Good luck

No. If you two really have a connection then you will be able to make it work.