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A woman who got engaged to her former school teacher revealed that with an age gap of 25, they are often mistaken for grandma and granddaughter.
Monica Ketchum31, of Big Rapids, Michigan, was the “teacher pet” of science teacher Michelle Foster, 56, in 2004.
16 years after Monica left school, she decided to message her seventh grade teacher on Facebook.
The two formed a close friendship that eventually turned into a romantic relationship, and although they don’t see their large age difference as a problem in their relationship, the two lovebirds have noticed that others often confuse Michelle with Monica’s mother or grandmother.
Monica Ketchum, 31, of Michigan, is engaged to her former teacher Michelle Foster, 56 (pictured right)
Monica was the “teacher’s pet” for science teacher Michelle Foster in 2004
16 years after Monica left school, she decided to message her seventh grade teacher on Facebook
The couple say they are mistaken for mother and daughter “several times every day” and a stranger even mistook Michelle for Monica’s grandmother, but they brushed it off – and now say they “don’t notice” the age gap.
Despite the age gap, Monica said, they have a lot in common, combining music, camping, outdoor activities, and hunting for locally made beer.
‘In the beginning, the age gap was the biggest issue for Michelle – I really had no qualms,’ Monica said.
I’ve always been attracted to older people – I’m drawn to an old soul, so age wasn’t a thing to me.
“Michelle and I were always close, and we found commonalities, so I didn’t even see an age gap.”
However, Monica revealed that it “hurts” when people ask if Michelle is her “mother”.
People always ask if she’s my mom — she recently designed a t-shirt that says, “No, she’s not my mom.”
“I try to let it go but it hurts – age doesn’t matter to us, so why does it matter to others?”
She even wondered why people ask such questions, especially when they kiss in public.
And while they’re both happy, the ride isn’t always smooth—and because of their large age gap, Monica explained that they’re often mistaken for mother and daughter.
The two formed a close friendship that eventually turned into a romantic relationship
They note that they do not see the large age difference between them as a problem in their relationship, but they said that others often confuse Michelle with Monica’s mother or grandmother.
The couple say they are mistaken for mother and daughter “several times every day” and a stranger even mistook Michelle for Monica’s grandmother, but shrugged it off.
She said, “People ask ‘Is that your mother’ or even ‘Is that your grandmother’ all the time.
“We’ve been taught to laugh it off or shrug it off, but if you see me kissing her, why would you ask if she’s my mom?”
She added, “Another question I get asked is whether I loved her when I was 13 – of course not!”
“At that time, we didn’t have any relationship besides her being a good teacher.”
The 31-year-old added that the 25-year age gap was never an issue for her, but her partner of 56 years struggled with it at first.
Michelle was “very happy” to reconnect, but worried about what others thought of how their relationship began and the large age gap between them.
The 56-year-old said: ‘I was worried about the age difference and worried about the first way we met, but I had to let everything go. ”
Michelle knew she had to stop worrying about what other people thought, and said that once she did, she was finally happy.
It became clear that I had to choose for myself, and when I did, it was like lifting the weight of the world.
Once I let go, it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks. Since I left that, we’ve just bloomed.
Monica said that despite the age gap, they had a lot in common, they bonded over music, camping, outdoor activities, and hunting for locally brewed beer.
Michelle was “very happy” to reconnect, but worried about what others thought of how their relationship began and the large age gap between them.
I realized that other people can think what they think and I have to do what I need to do to be happy.
“I am now just thinking how lucky I am to have such a wonderfully beautiful soul to spend the rest of my days with.”
She explained that she knew Monica was when the 31-year-old offered to “take care of” her.
Michelle said: “I’ve always been a great caregiver, and one day she said ‘let me take care of you’ – I can’t tell you how amazing that felt.
Monica decides to reach out to Michelle after she goes through a difficult situation with her family.
He was 31 years old She was raised strong Christian and became estranged from her family when she came out as gay.
Since 13-year-old Michelle’s classroom was a “safe space” for Monica, she decided to contact her favorite teacher because she also had an affair with a woman in the past.
While their relationship remained professional at the time, Michelle left such a mark that Monica decided to find her on Facebook nearly a decade later, in April 2020.
Michelle knew she had to stop worrying about what other people thought, and said that once she did, she was finally happy
Monica decides to reach out to Michelle after she goes through a difficult situation with her family
Michelle was also struggling when Monica reached out and they supported each other, chatting online.
Their supportive friendship grew more intense until it became apparent that a romance was taking place – despite the casual relationship and 25-year age gap.
In August 2021, they finally meet for the first time.
Monica said: ‘We sat and had lunch for five hours – it was great catching up.
We got close and became great friends – we could talk about anything.
“We’ve been in really dark places and finding someone you can relate to and feel safe.”
They ended their previous relationships to be together in May 2022, as Michelle and her wife filed for divorce.
Monica proposed in September 2022 and then Michelle returned the favor by popping the question again the following month.
Since then, the couple – who have children from previous marriages – have been living together.
The couple got engaged late last year, after staging separate shows for each other.
Their supportive friendship becomes more intense until it becomes clear that there is a romantic connection – despite the casual relationship and the 25 year age gap.
Monica proposed in September 2022 and then Michelle returned the favor by popping the question again the following month
They are now planning their wedding, which is scheduled to take place in June 2023.
And although they are being targeted by trolls, who claim that Michelle “set” Monica, they say that could not be further from the truth.
Despite people misunderstanding their relationship, the couple put themselves out there on social media.
They made it clear that they wanted to “be open in a community that needs a voice” – whether because they are gay or because of their age gap.
Monica said: ‘We want to be where others come to find hope, light and safety or need a friend.
“We want to surround everyone in a loving way and to reinforce that love is love.”
“We get a lot of harassment because of our age difference, and we just don’t understand it,” Monica added.
The 31-year-old remarked that since their age difference didn’t matter to them, it shouldn’t matter to others.
Age doesn’t matter to us, so why does it matter to others?
If I let myself sit there and think about it, I would go crazy – I try to let it go but it hurts.
“Love is love and we can love whoever we want.”
I’m engaged to my former teacher…people think she’s my grandmother