Whether you’re currently on the fence about dating an older woman or just so happen to be one yourself, it goes without saying that there are a lot of myths and misconceptions out there about what dating a sophisticated older lady is really all about. The following are just a few of the most persistent. Do you know anyone who’s guilty of buying into any of the following? Are you?

1. Older women come with too much baggage.

While baggage is never anyone’s favorite thing to deal with when dating another person, literally everyone comes with some. Even a young person who’s never had a serious relationship before is going to have a past and potentially be carrying some baggage because of it. What matters is how that person carries it.

Most older women have been around the block a time or two, so they have a lot more perspective when it comes to such things. Quite a few have made it a point to learn, grow, and evolve in response to various life experiences. In other words, a little baggage isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially between two people who really care about one another.

2. An older woman won’t be able to keep up in bed.

You definitely don’t want to assume tearing things up between the sheets is strictly a younger woman’s game. Women are just as sensual in their 30’s, 40’s, and beyond as anyone else. In fact, most women don’t even hit their sexual peaks until their 20’s are behind them, so an older hottie is actually more likely to rock your world in the bedroom.

Older women are also a lot more likely to be completely in tune with their bodies, as well as more adventurous in the sack. They know what they like in bed, and they’re not afraid to ask for it by any stretch of the imagination. Best of all, the older hottie in your life can probably teach you a new trick or two. You’d have to be crazy not to be down with that.

3. Older women are past their prime in the looks department.

It’s a common misconception that only men have the ability to age like fine wine. The world is filled with stone lady foxes that left their 20’s behind a long time ago. How well a person ages is ultimately determined by how well they take care of themselves, as well as by who they are on a core level.

The fact that an older hottie attracts so much attention from younger folks in the first place is really all the proof you need. A young woman who takes good care of herself and is proud of who she is will naturally evolve into an older stunner who’s exactly the same way, so forget what you think you know about how women age.

4. Older women don’t take younger partners seriously.

If an older woman doesn’t take someone seriously, you can rest easy in the knowledge that it’s not because of how old they are. It’s a common misconception that maturity, poise, and wisdom are only things that come with age. A young person who’s grounded, hard-working, considerate, and self-assured won’t have any trouble at all attracting and holding an older partner’s interest.

Generally speaking, an older woman’s learned a long time ago not to judge a book by its cover, and she knows that great partnerships can be cultivated with people of any age. Ultimately, she’s far more interested in whether you’re focused, compassionate, and charming than she is the number of candles you’ll have on your next birthday cake.

5. There won’t be enough common ground.

This is something people tend to get wrong about any potential couple dealing with an age gap. They simply assume that the younger person isn’t mature enough to meet an older partner’s needs and the older person won’t understand the younger partner’s values and personal tastes. Of course, this isn’t necessarily true.

It’s more than possible for two people with an age gap to find plenty of common ground to connect over. Even in the event they are very different, it’s certainly possible for opposites to attract and be extremely good for one another. What matters is that they’re good for one another, that they’re willing to learn from each other, and that they genuinely enjoy spending time together.

At the end of the day, dating an older woman isn’t much different from the experience of dating anyone else. It’s all about whether the two people involved in that relationship meet one another’s needs and are on the same page when it comes to the things that matters most. Everything else has a way of sorting itself out, just as it does in any other type of relationship.