How to Communicate Better with Men: The Art of Dating 40+

Carol was putting the finishing touches on her makeup when her phone buzzed with a text from Michael: “So sorry, Carol. Big crisis at work. Have to cancel dinner. Rain check?”

She glanced at her watch. It was 6:45 PM, and now she was all dressed up with nowhere to go.

Carol stared at her reflection in the hallway mirror, feeling a mix of disappointment and frustration. She and Michael had been dating for about a month, and this was the first time he’d canceled. The last-minute nature of it stung.

As she contemplated her response, her phone buzzed again. Another text from Michael: “I’ll make it up to you, I promise. How about lunch tomorrow?”

Carol stared at her phone, uncertain. she knew she should respond but wasn’t sure what to say or how quickly to say it.

She knew she needed to address this issue, to set a clear message about respecting her time. But how to do it effectively at this stage in their dating? Was this an issue she shouldn’t ignore?

She began to type, then hesitated. What was the right way to handle this?

Some dating situations are tricky. Take Carol’s case — all dressed up and suddenly stuck at home because Michael cancelled at the last minute. It’s moments like these that can…