Love Is Blind: Jessica Batten Was Realistic about Dating Younger Men (& When She Was Wrong)

Jessica Batten and Mark Cuevas were one of Love is Blind‘s most talked about couples. They fell madly in love while dating in the pods, but things were never easy for the memorable pair.

While still in the pods, Jessica found herself attracted to both Mark and Matt Barnett. Eventually, Matt chose Amber Pike over Jessica. However, she still questioned if Matt made the right decision. Then, when Mark and Jessica met in person, she made it clear that she wasn’t necessarily the most attracted to him. One major issue that plagued their doomed romance was Jessica’s inability to get past the age difference. Jessica was 33 at the time and Mark was 24 – almost a 10 year age difference. She made it a consistent source of conflict in their relationship. No one else seemed to have a problem with the age gap but Jessica.

Though Jessica was very wrong about many things on the series, she wasn’t necessarily completely wrong about the obstacles faced by couples with an age gap. Here are a few of the generalizations that Jessica was right about and some that were completely wrong about dating a younger man.

Right: Different Levels of Maturity

At 24, many people have only been on their own for a few years, so they may not have experienced much of independent life. This could alter their reactions and handling of certain situations. Most people in their 30s understand their strengths and weaknesses and know how to engage in mature conversations. Lack of maturity sometimes presents an issue when dating someone younger. Mark didn’t show any immaturity during his time on Love is Blind, so these statements are generalized.

Wrong: Age Doesn’t Equate Maturity

Maturity has more to do with life experience. Some people in their twenties have dealt with more difficult situations than those in their thirties, forties or fifties. Life experience is more of an indicator of maturity levels than an age number. In our opinion, Mark showed more maturity in quite a few situations than some older Love is Blind contestants.

Right: Families Can be Judgmental

Jessica feared that Mark’s mother wouldn’t like that her son was dating an older woman. In reality, Mark’s family and mother embraced Jessica. However, this is not always the case. Many families will be a bit judgmental when there is a major age difference between a couple.

Wrong: Not all Mothers will Judge an Older Woman for Dating a Younger Man

Jessica acted like it was a universal truth that all mothers judged an older woman for dating their sons. Like any relationship, it depends on the mother-son relationship, and the way the woman treats their son. As long as there isn’t a criminal level age difference, many parents should be happy if their son found someone who truly loves and respects him.

Right: May Regret Settling down too Early

The decision to get married in their 20s may haunt some men. They may feel they missed some vital party and hooking up years.

Wrong: Some Younger Men Dream of Marrying and Starting a Family

For many men, it’s their biggest dream to settle down. Getting married young is part of their life goals, so they embrace the idea of finding the right one at any age. They don’t feel like they’re missing out on anything by having a family young.

Right: Careers Might Not Be Fully Developed

Early to mid-20s is a major career development time, so someone who is a younger age probably isn’t running a corporation or a multi-millionaire yet.

Wrong: Ambition Matters Most

During Love is Blind or in the real world, when dating someone younger, there should be less focus on where they are now (career wise) and more attention paid to their potential. They may be young, but they might have the mindset and hustle of someone twice their age.

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