I Want to Have a Real Date. What Can I Do?

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Written by: Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Known as America's Relationship Expert, Dr. Wendy Walsh is an award-winning television journalist, radio host & podcaster, and the author of three books on relationships and thousands of print and digital articles. More than 1.5 million people follow her sage advice on social media. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and teaches in the Psychology Department at California State University Channel Islands and has been the host of "The Dr. Wendy Walsh Show" on iHeart Radio's KFI AM 640 since 2015. Walsh is also a former Emmy-nominated co-host of "The Doctors," as well as former host of the nationally syndicated show "EXTRA." She was named a Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2017 after speaking out about harassment at a major news network.

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Edited by: Lillian Castro

Lillian Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of journalism experience to ensure DatingAdvice articles have been edited for overall clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement. She has worked at The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, The Gwinnett Daily News, and The Gainesville Sun covering lifestyle topics.

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Reader Question:

I’m 22 and I met a 33-year-old woman. She looks like she is in her mid-20s. I told the girl I had very much enjoyed her company and hoped to see her again. She suggested I look her up on Facebook and we keep in touch. I live in Philly and she lives in Wilmington, Del.

I am very attracted to her and would like to have a real date, yet I am stumped as to what to do now. I am not sure if she enjoyed my company as just friends or if she would be interested in a date. It will have to be an online interaction initially.

What can I do?

-Sean (Philadelphia)

Dr. Wendy Walsh’s Answer:

Dear Sean,

What are you looking for? Is it time for you to settle down (average age of first-time marriage for men is 27) or to have a fun long-distance girlfriend?

If it is the latter, it might be unfair to eat up the last remaining years of a woman’s fertility window.

By the way, the height of female fertility is age 20. At 30, there is a dive. At 35, there is a huge dive.

If she wants to be a mother, either plan to get serious or back off. And if you plan to get serious, don’t fall into an online fantasy relationship.

Call her. Go visit. The answer will be clear much sooner if you do.


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