At the time Tina - who usually dates older men - was looking for someone her own age. Admitting to feeling awkward when they first got together, she continued: I didn't want to hold his hand in public, in case we saw anyone he knew and they gave him a hard time.
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People's negative opinions are their problem, not ours, and our families are both very happy for us. Meeting through mutual friends, when Tina - also mother to Steven, 23, Khan, 17, Serene, 15, and Holden, eight, from a previous relationship, as well as to her fiance's children Elijah, four, and Toni, two — first encountered Brandon and he asked if he could rent her spare room, she had no romantic intentions. In , the couple had a son Elijah, followed by Toni pictured in The couple are speaking out about their relationship because they want to dispel some of the stereotypes around age gap couples and to encourage other people to be more open-minded.
After dating in secret for six months, the couple told their family. Tina's son Steven left, pictured with Christopher was angry at first because he is such a similar age to his stepfather. For one, he wasn't my usual type — but there was also this huge age gap. I was excited, but also really nervous, as this was so new to me.
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I had my children to think about and didn't want them getting attached to somebody who wasn't going to commit to us. After six months of secret dating - during which they abstained from having sex - they finally came out to their families, at first provoking mixed reactions. The family are now incredibly supportive about the relationship despite the mixed reactions it first provoked.
Tina, pictured with Brandon and Toni,says the couple are now more confident about their relationship and can laugh off snide comments. They get on absolutely brilliantly, all the kids do. My year-old even bought Brandon a jokey Father's Day gift.
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Of course, they were a little dubious, but then they saw how happy Brandon makes me, and that's all they want for their mum. After going public, the couple started planning a life together - having Elijah in , followed by Toni in , soon after which Brandon proposed. Tina, who is yet to set a wedding date, continued: It was very simple.
He came home one day, all grubby from work, and asked me to marry him there in our bedroom. But not everyone has been as positive as their families about their age-gap love, according to Tina, who said Brandon is often mistaken for either her son, or her daughter's boyfriend. Confident about their relationship, she now laughs off snide comments, which she would once have found hurtful, saying: We try to be positive and stay laughing. Tina, pictured with Brandon and Toni after she was born, said: It's that old saying — those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter'.
The only time the year age gap becomes an issue is when Brandon listens to music, which drives Tina 'insane'. He chuckled, smacked my bottom and went, "She's not my mum".
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Little do they know! Tina said the only time when their age gap becomes obvious is when it comes to Brandon's taste in films and music.
I'll talk to him about movies, too, forgetting most of my favourites came out before he was even born. He's not interested in going out partying all the time.
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He's kept me grounded and brought out the best in me. Now, by sharing her story, Tina hopes to dispel some of the stereotypes around age gap couples and to encourage other people to be more open-minded. According to Tina, all the kids now get along with Brandon, and her daughter Brie even bought him a jokey Father's Day present.
Tina, Brandon and Holden. People who mistake Brandon for her son often say 'Your son will make a wonderful dad one day' - not realising he is already a father-of-two. Tina, Brandon and Serene.
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But this thing is happening, like it or not, and so trying to stop it will only backfire on you, possibly hurting your friendship with Kate more than the romance itself would have, certainly damaging your relationship with your daughter, and most likely having the ironic effect of stoking this romantic fire. Treat him and the romance as I hope you would any other: Give them warmth, reasonable limits and whatever leeway their behavior warrants. Yes, the girl can get pregnant. Of all of the double standards, this one galls me the most.
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