A divorced mom has found love again with a man 19 years her junior, and while she's loving life again, there is one downside to her relationship.
Dating is a tricky business, there's no question about that. And if there is a big age gap between a couple, then people are likely to ask questions.
One anonymous 46-year-old divorced woman wrote in to relationships expert Jana Hocking for the Daily Mail.
The woman explained how she re-entered the dating scene after three years, eventually finding her current partner, who is 27.
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She wrote: "I'm a 46-year-old divorced mum who's just started dating again after nearly three years. I tried dating men in their mid-forties and fifties, but it never clicked.
"So, I took a chance and started dating guys in their late twenties and early thirties. I ended up in an unexpected relationship with a 27-year-old, and it's one of the best and healthiest relationships I've ever had."
Not everything is sunshine and roses however, with the woman recalling one incident at a recent dinner party.
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She continued: "But at a recent dinner party, one of my close friends jokingly called me a 'cougar,' and the joke quickly caught on with the group. While I'm usually pretty laid-back and will happily admit I enjoyed some of the attention from younger guys on dating apps, being labelled a 'cougar' feels a little insulting.
"It seems to imply that my interest in younger men is something laughable or predatory. It's made me wonder if there's something wrong with my midlife dating choices or if I'm just being overly sensitive."
Jana then replied with some useful advice that will hopefully put the woman's mind at ease.
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She went on to say she 'isn't predatory' for dating a 27-year-old, adding: "That man has been legally allowed to drink, vote and lay naked at nudist beaches for the last nine years!"
Jana continued: "Now, about this 'cougar' business. Look, I get it. When I hear that word, the first thing that comes to mind is Stifler's mum and it does sound a bit icky. So yes, it can sting a little when it feels like people are reducing you to a punchline. But here's the thing: your dating life is your own, and if you're happy and it's working, that's what truly matters."
Jana is known for providing useful relationship advice in her weekly Daily Mail column 'saucy secrets'.
Topics: Sex and Relationships
Callum Jones