Hollywood may insist that the proper pairing is a sophisticated older man and a vivacious younger woman, but some iVillage members will tell you different. Many women are passing up the Sean Connery types to find true love with younger men. What's the attraction? As iVillager debbiey points out, "All the guys I meet are my age or older and divorced. It didn't take me very long to get really tired of divorce stories. I met a great guy who's 22. We got along well, although there were obvious differences in our lifestyles. And no divorce stories!"

We all know some of the other pros to dating a young, virile man -- Terry McMillan sure made a case for it in How Stella Got Her Groove Back -- but couples in these relationships face their own dilemmas as well. Here are three of the most common problems and encouraging solutions from women who have been there and who have no intention of trading their men in for an older model.

What's wrong:

We are at two different places in our lives. I am ready to commit, but he's not ready to think of marriage. I don't know where we are heading or whether we have a future together.

How to cope:

"There's nothing wrong with living in the 'here and now' and letting nature take its course. If it's meant to be, it will be. You're fortunate to have love in your life -- be happy about that. Don't want to waste one precious second of NOW while on the way getting to THEN." -- gwenmarie

"I am in the same kind of relationship and feel the same way. We are enjoying what we have now, learning from each other. I look at our relationship as a gift ... our own little slice of heaven. No matter what happens, I will never regret this." -- joycef2

What's wrong:

My younger mate is far more jealous and insecure than any older man I have dated.

How to cope:

"Reassure him that you love him. I am married to a man 11 years younger, and he needs to be shown that I am not going anywhere ... that he is the love of my life." -- poetry

"Younger men can be very insecure about themselves. Try to let him know that he is the one and only in your life and that you are proud to be with him! If you can try to do some couples counseling, it's a lot easier than a divorce down the road." -- kache

What's wrong:

I am worried whether family and friends will accept our relationship.

How to cope:

"If he is your soulmate, you learn to live for yourselves and no one else. The rest will come around in time. Believe me when I say most people will see your relationship as a joke ... the age thing still has people mystified. They just cannot seem to grasp that we are just two people who fell in love. That is the tall and short of it. If I had to do it again, would I? Yes. He is my soul, my life." -- mantez

"You simply live your life and be happy! The opinions of these people are not so important.... But your happiness is. Just let them see how happy you are, and in time they will learn to accept. I know that people were betting that we would not last six months when we got married. Well, we were married three years in May and I have never been happier. We prove them wrong every day." -- poetry

Having your own romance with a younger man? Join us on the May-December Romance board.