How My Parents Met Vs How I Found Love
Dating is a bit of a minefield in the modern world. App’s are appearing left right and centre, and some of them are pretty niche. If you’re a particular age or race, have a specific job or specific loves there’s likely to be something out there for you. But while it might seem normal to us millenials that we’re more likely to find a partner online. To our elders this isn’t always true.
My parents are a prime example, they’ve known of each other since they were kids. Their families lived in similar areas and they frequented similar places. And when my parents first started dating it was because they recognised each other and it was all done face-to-face. My mum would wait at home for my dad to call her and ghosting or not replying just wasn’t a thing.
This all happened quite early as my mum was just 23 when she got married. Not young by their standards, but quite young in the modern world. So when they started dating my mum was barely out of her teens. Something I can’t quite imagine seeing as I met Luke when I was 26. For my parents they don’t know anything different about dating and the idea of going online is thankfully something they should never need to experience.
Dating when you’re older
Dating can be tough but being over 60 dating must be even stranger. I’ve read loads of stories of those older who have divorced or been widowed and want to meet someone. But they’re a little stuck when it comes to the idea of going online. Some people might be lucky and have a child or neice/ nephew who can help. But that’s why it’s so good that there are dedicated sites out there like older-dating.com that can specifically direct people of that age.
I was quite open with my parents when I first started dating Luke about how we met. As I’d used online dating sites a number of times before they didn’t bat an eyelid,. But here’s some things which did surprise them:
Dating concepts my parents found wierd
- Women offering to split the bill- For my parents generation it was pretty much a given that the man paid for dates. And most of the time the women didn’t even offer.
- Going out suited and booted- I feel that dates are far more casual now and people will turn up in jeans and a top. But for my parents generation dates were held in higher esteem. And generally you’d make an effort with your dress. When me and Luke had our first date I was super casual as I wanted him to know that was how I dressed. I’d have hated to get all dolled up and make him think I always dressed up. It would have been a big dissappointment otherwise.
- Going out for just drinks is fine- For my parents traditionally a full on meal was the general date. But it’s far more common for people now to just go for drinks. For most of us it’s because we’re so busy. And we don’t want to invest loads of time into someone until we know we get on and they’re worth it.
- Ghosting- I’ve been ghosted a number of times and it was always tough when it happened after what felt like a successful date. My parents were so shocked that this was even a thing.
If you’re with someone how did you meet?
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17 responses to “How My Parents Met Vs How I Found Love”
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All About Me
Rhian Westbury
Travels and Destinations
Nothing currently planned
I met my other half on Tinder, I hear so many nightmare stories but it’s the age old notion of kissing a lot of frogs to find that one prince
That’s so nice that you guys met on Tinder x
This is quite an interesting topic! I never though of how different it is between our parents generation and ours. Of course the biggest difference for us is the prevelence of social media in our dating life.
I met my husband at seventeen through friends and married at twenty-one. It’s quite surprising to see how much the dating game has changed over the years.
My mam & dad met in a pub whereas al and I met online and went for our first date in a pub xxx
How times have changed, it’s great to know you guys met online x
A lot has changed when it comes to dating. Before, everything is paid by the man. Today, splitting the bill is popular especially when the relationship is still new.
Totally agree, or he gets one and you get the next x
How things have changed now, I see lots of dating apps and match making sites. Also women and men tend to be more equal now and share bills and decisions too .
It really has changed a lot x
I am 46 and dating is so hard, I shold have stayed married lol
My parents have been together since they were 12, they met at Air Cadets and have been together ever since x
I met my husband at university as our courses were similar and we had the same lectures.
I met my husband through mutual friends, it was nice and easy!
Don’t you think it was all so much simpler back then? I was so lucky that Sean and I just met when he was a customer at my work and we hit it off. So glad to have escaped the need for tinder etc!
My husband and I met on msn through mututal friends when we were teenagers! My mum and dad were teenagers too. My dad got on the bus and and my mum said to her friend “I’m going to marry him”. And she did! 40 years later they’re still married 🙂
Ohh the msn days! How I remember those. That’s so cute about your parents x