A woman who fell in love with a man 21 years her senior said she was initially told by her mum he will "get tired of her".
Kat Lyons, 33, was told by her mum that her boyfriend Rob Berg, 54, was just with her for her youthfulness and would leave when he got tired of her.
The US model, from California, met her retired lieutenant colonel boyfriend, from Texas, in February 2019 at the Galaxy Fest sci-fi convention in Colorado.
Despite their 21 year age difference, the pair immediately hit it off due to their shared interest in
cosplay, sci-fi and comic books.
They soon began dating but not everyone in their lives were supportive of their new relationship at first.
Kat's mum shared her doubts of Rob's intentions but has since taken a liking to him after the couple's two years together.
The model told how the pair "fell in love after we went out on our first date".
"For Rob it was my geeky personality and for me it was that he could make me laugh effortlessly - we're both naturally silly people," she added.
"My family was not so keen on me and Rob being together, especially at first.
"My mum said he was closer to her age and that he just wanted me because I'm young and eventually he will get tired of me.
"It was hurtful, but things have changed in the past two years and she seems okay with it now. They met recently and she even hugged him which was a big moment."
When Kat and Rob are affectionate with each other in public, strangers sometimes stare and whisper about the couple when they think they aren't looking.
And scepticism about their love isn't just confined to the outside world.
The couple have people online commenting on pictures of them together, calling their relationship disgusting and even telling Kat that she should leave Rob and try dating someone younger.
Kat said there are distinct advantages to being with an older man that strangers simply do not understand.
Notably, Rob is mature, emotionally stable and knows what he wants in life. He is also able to provide for the couple financially, allowing Kat to avoid spending her 30s living with her parents.
Kat said that Rob also always steals the show with his charm when they meet with friends or go out.
"There are lots of benefits to being in an age gap relationship. Rob has plenty of life experience, he knows what he wants, and is responsible," she said.
"Being with someone older often means that you are with someone both more emotionally and financially stable and can avoid living in your parent's basement.
"When we are out, I notice people staring and whispering about us. I certainly notice it more than Rob does.
"Online we always get comments about his age and people asking why I'm with an old man.
"Women often comment about it being disgusting. They say that 'he just likes young women' and say that 'when I get tired of the old man I should try someone young'.
"Age certainly doesn't define the love we share.
"Rob has two kids from previous marriages and with him having sole custody over his six-year-old, it does affect our ability to go and do things as a couple.
"But I share an amazing love with both his six-year-old and eighteen-year-old so there are no issues there."
Kat is eager to let the world know that age should not define any relationship and hopes to eventually marry Rob, despite not particularly believing in the institution itself.
"Some people are sceptical about being with someone a lot older or younger than themselves, but you might be missing out on the best thing in your life," she said.
"A lot of the time you can find stability with a person that is more mature.
"Eventually we want to get married even though we both don't believe in the institution of marriage.
"There are benefits to doing so and we both plan on being with each other for the rest of our lives, so why not."
