“I’m a 46-year-old divorced mother who recently started dating again after nearly three years,” the woman stated. I made an attempt to date men in their mid-forties and mid-fifties, but I was never successful.”I decided to take a chance and began dating men who were in their late 20s and early 30s. One of the nicest and healthiest relationships I’ve ever had is with a 27-year-old that I ended up in unexpectedly.”
But it’s not all sunshine and roses, as the woman recalls an instance from a recent dinner gathering.
She went on, “But one of my close friends called me a ‘cougar,’ in jest, at a recent dinner party, and the joke quickly spread among the group.” Being called a ‘cougar’ feels a little offensive, even though I’m typically a pretty laid-back person and I’ll gladly confess that I welcomed some of the attention from younger guys on dating apps.”It seems to suggest that I’m being ridiculous or predatory by being interested in younger males. I’m left wondering if I’m simply being too sensitive or if there’s anything wrong with my midlife dating decisions.
The woman will hopefully feel more at ease after hearing Jana’s insightful counsel.
She continued, saying that dating a 27-year-old was not predatory, and that he had been legally permitted to vote, drink, and lay nude on beaches for the previous nine years.
Jana went on: “Now, regarding this ‘cougar’ matter. I understand, I promise. That word does sound a little gross, and the first person that springs to mind when I hear it is Stifler’s mother. Therefore, yes, it might hurt a little to feel like you’re being used as a joke. The fact is, though, that your dating life is your own, and what matters most is that you are happy and that the relationship is working for you.”
Jana is well-known for her weekly “saucy secrets” piece in the Daily Mail, where she offers helpful marital advise.
