‘I’m a cougar – strangers mistake me for lover’s mum and say he is after my money’

A self-proclaimed “cougar” revealed how folks typically mistake her for her husband’s mum.

Tamela Stephey, 59, has heard all of it earlier than after tying the knot to landscaper Zach, 42. The pair share a love for mountaineering and travelling.

After their marriage ceremony on June 14, 2016, Tamela says they not often argue. But having a 17-year age hole causes a stir after they’re out in public.

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Strangers typically assume he is along with her for cash, resulting in them being laughed at in public. Tamela’s eldest youngster, Ray, 39, is simply three years youthful than his stepdad.

Tamela, a mum-of-four, from Indiana, US, stated: “It’s very hard being in an age gap relationship – you get lots of whispers, stares, and some people even take pictures in the street.

“But we’re nice for one another – we do not struggle or argue, nothing ever comes up that the 2 of us cannot work out.”

Tamela met Zach in 2012 when he came to work on her swimming pool. She quickly became attracted to his “Thor-like seems to be”.

After Zach finished working on the pool, they continued texting and eventually started dating. She said: “I believed Zach was very good – and he regarded like Thor.

“My daughter would be like, ‘mum, we have Thor working for us’ – and that’s what first attracted me to him. He seemed a bit unsure of himself, and where he was going with his life.”

Tamela and her kids – Ray, 39, Jeremy, 37, Christopher, 32, and Britney, 29 – had been initially cautious, considering Zach is likely to be after her cash. But as soon as he moved in, he used half his paycheck for hire each month and did not ask for a penny.

Each of Tamela’s kids rapidly grew keen on Zach and his twins, Lauren and Lincoln, 16, obtained alongside effectively along with his new accomplice.

The nasty feedback from others began early on within the relationship – and so they had to spend so much of time shutting down discuss that Tamela was a “sugar mummy”.

At the beginning of their relationship, she says folks would say: “He’s after you for your money,” and “how much is he charging you to sleep with him?”

On August 17, 2014, Zach popped the query to Tamela whereas they had been mountaineering in St Lucia. She stated sure after turning him down 4 instances earlier than.

The couple tied the knot in St Lucia on June 14, 2016, and Tamela says they work very well as a personal pair. While all the things goes nice, the pair face struggles in public.

Tamela believes they would not face as a lot criticism if she was an older man married to a youthful lady. She added: “When we’re out, waitresses will try to pass him their numbers and stuff – and he has to make it very clear I’m his wife.

“We journey lots, however even once we’re overseas, individuals are nonetheless very imply. People stare, generally folks take footage. It’s why I used to be so tentative in the beginning of our relationship – I did not need anybody to get the fallacious thought.

“What we find really odd is – we’d see a young girl with an older man who can barely get around, but no one says anything to them. There’s definitely some misogyny involved there.”

Despite the nasty feedback from trolls, Tamela and Zach are decided to proceed dwelling their lives overtly.

She concluded: “We work very hard for our kids – and we want to try not to care what people think.”

“I’m living my best life – and that’s with Tamela,” Zach gushed.

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