It’s an unfortunate fact of life that love is not always seen as the primary motive behind the marriage of an older man and a younger woman. Even as gay marriage has become more acceptable than in the past, the marriage of a younger woman to an older man is still viewed by some as a dash for the cash.

There’s no doubt that marriage, any marriage, is hard work. And all marriages will face issues that can make or break the relationship. Marriage to a man who is old enough to be your father will present special challenges that you may not have considered.

The opinion of others. You may think you don’t care what others think of your marriage until they call you a gold digger to your face and your husband a cradle robber. So much for the stick and stones theory! Be prepared to cringe the first, second and hundredth time someone mistakes you for father and daughter.

A growing family. Chances are your partner already has children; as a matter of act his oldest daughter is older than you are! How do you feel about that? Is your partner willing to have more children to satisfy your need to become a mother? Children can kill a relationship so make sure you iron this one out well in advance.

Health. You’re 35, he’s 57. How long you’ll have together depends not just on genes but also lifestyle. Does your partner eat healthy and does he exercise regularly? A 57 beer swilling cigarette smoking couch potato is going to kick the bucket a lot sooner than a man who looks after himself.

Downtime. When you’re not working, what do you like to do together as a couple? Will your partner be able to keep up with you as you get older? And consider too your social life. Couples with more than 20 years between them are of different generations and you may not want to hang out with people who resemble your parents, nor he with people he considers children.

Working versus Not Working. He’s 57 and if he hasn’t retired yet, he soon will, while you’re at the top of your game and have no plans or desire to give up working just yet. So how is he going to spend his time while you’re out earning a living? Will he resent the fact that you’re not home during the day or that you have to go out of town on business?

Any good relationship that goes the distance is made up of a number of factors; love and constant communication are just two. Before you tie the know, talk to your partner, in detail, about your hopes and dreams for the two of you. Don’t be afraid to get specific. Better you iron out your differences now than in divorce court.