A woman in an extreme gap relationship has revealed the insults she and her real estate developer fiancé suffer from people who disapprove of their union – and how when they first met, she worried he might be a catfish.
Christine Sanchez, 34, met her soon-to-be husband, 59-year-old Eduardo Hernando, three years ago on a dating app – with the pair falling head over heels with each other.
But having grown tired of dating “let-downs”, the mum-of-one was hesitant to make things official at first.
Eduardo, the ultimate gentleman, soon won her over with his charm and passion – from lengthy foreplay to please his partner to spoiling her with gifts.
When they announced their relationship, the pair’s family and friends were not too surprised – after all, both Christine and Eduardo had been in previous age gap relationships – but strangers soon started lashing out.
“Eduardo is very old school when it comes to his role as a man in the house,” Christine, who has an eight-year-old son from a previous relationship, told Need To Know.
“He pays all the bills, he pays for every dinner and he pays for all of our trip and vacation expenses.
“My family and friends love him, honestly, no one can even tell he’s almost 60 years old.
“However we do get a couple, sometimes a lot, of hateful negative comments online.
“People insult me and automatically assume I’m only with him for his money, they call me a gold digger.
“They also insult him and say he’s with someone who can be his daughter and that I’m using him.
“At first, it was very stressful but it opened our eyes to something bigger.
“Multiple men and women have reached out to us directly, expressing how much they appreciate our content saying that we inspire them to not be ashamed to love who they love.”
Prior to meeting Eduardo, when she was 30, Christine dated a man 30 years her senior.
Meanwhile, Eduardo, who is Cuban and hails from Miami, Florida, says having a partner with “younger energy levels” is a “better match” for him, since he has been an avid cyclist and athlete all his life.
Christine, who is Puerto Rican and hails from Brooklyn, New York, said: “We both have past experiences of dating someone with a significant age gap.
“[But when we first met], I was over dating.
“I was tired of the let-downs, the dates felt like interviews.
“We flirted a lot via a dating app and eventually shared our phone numbers.
“[Then we had] our first FaceTime, which I demanded because I was afraid of being catfished.
“[On our first date], I was very impressed with how handsome he looked in person and our connection was genuine, real and down to earth.
“I was treated with much respect and the ultimate princess treatment from a real gentleman.”
Christine, who owns a nail business and a hospitality management company, was worried about how settling down with Eduardo would affect her professional aspirations.
But he soon won her over – partly as, with Eduardo being an entrepreneur himself, they both shared a strong passion for business.
She said: “I had this notion that I wouldn’t be able to accomplish my career goals if I was to enter into a serious relationship with him (older man).
“My only [other] concern was my son.
“I wondered if a man his age would have the patience to deal with a [then] five-year-old by or if he’d be up to the task of raising a child with me.
“I simply communicated my concerns to him and he is a very good listener.
“Not only that, he actually applied what we would discuss.
“He’s told me that he is lucky to have my son in his life.”
Just 10 months after they met, Eduardo and Christine moved in together and not long after, got engaged and they are currently planning their wedding.
Christine said: “The chemistry in our relationship is different in so many ways than in any of my past relationships with men my age.
“With Eduardo, I feel safe.
“I know he will always ‘figure it out’ – it’s his mission to make me happy.
“From romantic sunset dinners on the beach in Jamaica to intimacy not being rushed and enjoying foreplay.
“From day one till this day, he has always spoiled me and I wouldn’t change a thing.
“Aside from our heated passionate love, silence isn’t awkward.
“Because of his age, he is wise, therefore there is a constant mental stimulation, he is always teaching me something.
“Emotional control is attractive and stability is necessary.
“If that comes wrapped in a silver fox with a salt and pepper beard that’s a blessing, so take it.
“I almost gave up on love and three years later I am getting married to the best thing that has ever happened to me and my one true love soulmate.”
READ MORE: We’re a throuple raising 3 kids – people can’t handle it, but we’re better parents for it
