Woman met husband 24 years her senior after dating his son

Sydney Dean, 27, first met truck driver Paul, 51, as a primary school student after visiting her then-boyfriend – Paul’s young son.

A woman who is married to a man 24 years her senior has revealed that she’s lost friends after tying the knot with her ex-boyfriend’s dad.

Sydney Dean, 27, from Ohio, US, first met truck driver Paul, 51, as a primary school student after visiting her then-boyfriend, Paul’s son.

Despite their childhood romance coming to an end, they stayed friends during high school and Sydney would often visit her friend’s home after school and on weekends.

Paul and Sydney got married, despite a 24-year age gap. Picture: Jam Press

But when Paul’s son got a girlfriend in his mid-teens, Sydney found herself as a third wheel and would often chat to Paul. Before long, they sparked a connection.

The pair started dating when Sydney turned 16, the legal consenting age in Ohio, and in 2016, when Sydney was 21, they tied the knot.

“I never expected to fall in love with Paul and we met in a non-traditional way, but I’m so happy I did,” Sydney told Jam Press.

“He is the only person I have had sex with and he is the best,” she said.

“I can’t really compare the sex to other relationships, as he is the first real relationship I have been in.

Sydney said she has lost friends because of the relationship. Picture: Jam Press

Sydney says their road to true love hasn’t been without its ups and downs, with the duo spending years convincing their families they were the real deal.

She said: “My mum already knew who Paul was and from the few times they have talked, they got along just fine.

“But when I first told my mum that we were together, she was not happy.

“The age gap really got to her and it stayed that way for about a year. Eventually she came around.”

The pair got married in 2016. Picture: Jam Press

Sydney’s family weren’t initially on board with the relationship. Picture: Jam Press

Sydney said she and Paul often go to her mum’s for a barbecue and live close by.

Her mum is now supportive and loves Paul, with Sydney joking the pair chat more than she does with her mum.

It was a similar situation with Sydney’s father, who lives out of state, and he eventually came round to the relationship.

As for Paul’s two children, the couple believe that his youngest took their romance the “hardest” as Sydney already knew him.

Sydney said: “He didn’t agree with the relationship for a couple [of] years, but now that we have been together and are married, he supports us being together.

“He comes over with his girlfriend and their three children every other weekend just to hang out with us and barbecue.

“Paul got into a horrible truck accident last July and was in the ICU for nearly three weeks.

“While he was in there, I would talk to his son every day and we would come see him together.”

People struggle to accept the large age gap between Sydney and Paul. Picture: Jam Press

While their families have come to terms with the relationship, Sydney revealed she has lost a friend because of it.

“I wish people would understand that couples with an age gap can truly love and care for one another,” Sydney said.

“There are a lot of negative assumptions about age-gap relationships, but that doesn’t mean couples can’t be in it for the right reasons.

“He is the best husband I could have asked for, and he treats me so great.”