A woman whose boyfriend is 22 years her senior says he doesn’t believe in marriage, kids are off the cards as he’s had a vasectomy and the pair like to play dementia prevention games in bed together.
Alexandra Cornish, 27, knew that she’d have to deal with some of the realities of dating a man considerably older – and admits that “some stereotypes are true”.
The 27-year-old’s partner, Andrew Chan is a 49-year-old CEO.
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The pair first met when he booked himself in for some ink at the tattoo parlour where Alex worked and fell madly in love.
Alex has revealed her mum wasn’t very happy at first and the duo have former friends who shared unwanted opinions too.
She is now spilling the beans on their age gap relationship, including the dementia games.
“I want to be honest and say yes, some stereotypes are true,” Alex told Need To Know.
“Andrew does pay for a lot and occasionally, I worry there could be medical concerns down the line, with him being so much older.
“There are a lot of things that run through my mind, which links to one of our viral videos of it being heartbreaking that I’m 27 and he’s in bed next to me doing dementia prevention games.
“We make a joke out of it but the reality is, there are a few concerns.
“Were my parents pleased when I said I was dating a man a couple months older than Mum? No.
“But now they’ve gotten to know him, as have my friends, they see how complimentary we are and how well we work together – and they love him.”
Andrew, who is divorced and has three children from a previous relationship, has no intentions of popping the question to his love or reversing his vasectomy, which he got aged 31.
Alex says that while her first boyfriend was six years older, this is the “first drastic age gap” relationship she has been in.
The jet-setting couple are based out of Singapore and Sydney, frequently flying between the two for work and to see family.
He said: “Definitely no kids, in fact, I’ve had a vasectomy to make sure of that.
“I now no longer believe marriage defines a relationship, and in most cases, makes people complacent.
“We’re happy, we travel, we live life.”
For Alex, the idea of kids not being part of the couple’s future isn’t a huge concern.
The 27-year-old says she doesn’t believe that a relationship needs marriage and kids to be considered successful.
“I was never deeply attached to the idea of having kids, it felt expected rather than something I wanted,” she said.
“I was raised by happily still married parents, which gave me a framework for what a devoted and successful long-term relationship looks like”
“A ring doesn’t inherently mean a successful relationship, it’s just how society frames it.”
The couple met in 2022 after Andrew contacted the tattoo studio where Alex was working to book a memorabilia tattoo inspired by Chinese brushstroke calligraphy.
Two days later, the budding couple got lunch on Alex’s day off from the tattoo parlour and a spark was instantly ignited.
Alex said: “We were the first at the restaurant and last to leave, and even that wasn’t long enough, so we walked to a bistro around the corner to continue.
“From this, we started seeing each other five times a week at least.”
When asked about how she reflects upon people commenting on her unconventional love story, Alex says it is “snarky remarks” from friends that sticks the most.
She added: “The comments that stick with me are from old friends, who make snarky remarks because they perceive our relationship a certain way, without knowing how it actually is.
“Those stick, but I don’t remain friends with the people that say such things.”
“No one important to me has ever made me feel uncomfortable.”
Alex doesn’t believe that all stereotypes that underpin age-gap relationships are necessarily true.
She added: “What is untrue is the assumption that the age gap would mean we have no similarities.
“We are very focused on fitness, traveling, and we have similar values
“I love him and find him so motivating towards my goals, and that is from the age gap.”
