A girl says the 27-year age gap together with her husband makes him a “higher dad” to their baby despite strangers mistaking him for the boy’s grandad — or her own father.
“People often mistake my husband for my dad — but we laugh it off,” said Gretchen Dillon, 36, who met Michael Dillon, 63, after repeatedly bumping into him on the local supermarket and befriending him.
Gretchen had just moved to Syracuse, NY, from Pennsylvania and was comfortable to have made a friend. Michael, who’s two years older than Gretchen’s mom, helped her find her footing in her latest city, offering her a free room and a job running his Airbnb.
Because the friendship blossomed, the 2 quickly realized that their feelings for each other were becoming romantic and eventually began dating.
“I used to be upset when Michael and I first slept together because in my head I didn’t think I desired to be [with] an older man,” Gretchen, a market research analyst, told South West News Service. “I took a while and got here to terms with it, now I’m happier than ever.”
The pair said that their friends were initially “shocked” by the 27-year age gap but soon jumped on board.
“My friend tried to stop me marrying him because she kept saying I used to be going to be a widow as he’s nearly 30 years older than me, but I loved him and didn’t care,” Gretchen said.
Actually, Michael, an insurance adjuster, believes their age gap is a plus. “The age difference is tremendously helpful within the success of our relationship,” he said.
“I’m loads more stable and mature than I used to be in my 30s.”
The couple did have some issues but they weren’t resulting from Michael’s age. After years of dating, Gretchen said she made it clear that she didn’t want an enormous proposal or a hoop but Michael didn’t listen.
On Thanksgiving 2017, Michael got down on one knee in front of his whole family and proposed to Gretchen with a diamond.
“I told him I didn’t want an enormous show and I didn’t need a ring — he presented me with a literal diamond rock, not on a hoop,” she explained.
“I used to be so upset that he thought he could propose to me on a technicality, I said no on principle in front of his family. I cried your complete next day, we needed to talk loads.”
But a month later, Michael got it right. He proposed on a sunrise kayaking trip in Florida and after three-and-a-half years of dating the pair got married in February 2018.
The newlyweds decided they wanted to begin a family together and three years later Gretchen learned that she was pregnant.
“Michael couldn’t wait to be a father again,” Gretchen recounted. The 61-year-old was already a father to 2 children but was excited to start raising one other child as a more mature adult.
The couple welcomed baby boy Shannon in October 2021 and couldn’t be happier — despite the confusion they generally encounter.
“People think I’m Shannon’s grandad on a regular basis but I just laugh it off,” Michael said.
Still, he admitted now that the infant has joined a playgroup, he’s vulnerable to picking up bugs.
“The immune system of a 36-year-old is a complete lot higher than the immune system of a 63-year-old.
“I continuously have these colds, it’s exhausting,” he said.
Gretchen, nonetheless, thinks his years help him within the parenting department.
“I feel his age makes him a greater father,” she said. “He can’t be as physically energetic, but he still loves monkeying around with little Shannon. But he’s more like a grandad because he has so far more patience.
“I might tell any woman in my position that life is simply too short to be unhappy. If something feels right in your gut — go for it,” she added.
A girl says the 27-year age gap together with her husband makes him a “higher dad” to their baby despite strangers mistaking him for the boy’s grandad — or her own father.
“People often mistake my husband for my dad — but we laugh it off,” said Gretchen Dillon, 36, who met Michael Dillon, 63, after repeatedly bumping into him on the local supermarket and befriending him.
Gretchen had just moved to Syracuse, NY, from Pennsylvania and was comfortable to have made a friend. Michael, who’s two years older than Gretchen’s mom, helped her find her footing in her latest city, offering her a free room and a job running his Airbnb.
Because the friendship blossomed, the 2 quickly realized that their feelings for each other were becoming romantic and eventually began dating.
“I used to be upset when Michael and I first slept together because in my head I didn’t think I desired to be [with] an older man,” Gretchen, a market research analyst, told South West News Service. “I took a while and got here to terms with it, now I’m happier than ever.”
The pair said that their friends were initially “shocked” by the 27-year age gap but soon jumped on board.
“My friend tried to stop me marrying him because she kept saying I used to be going to be a widow as he’s nearly 30 years older than me, but I loved him and didn’t care,” Gretchen said.
Actually, Michael, an insurance adjuster, believes their age gap is a plus. “The age difference is tremendously helpful within the success of our relationship,” he said.
“I’m loads more stable and mature than I used to be in my 30s.”
The couple did have some issues but they weren’t resulting from Michael’s age. After years of dating, Gretchen said she made it clear that she didn’t want an enormous proposal or a hoop but Michael didn’t listen.
On Thanksgiving 2017, Michael got down on one knee in front of his whole family and proposed to Gretchen with a diamond.
“I told him I didn’t want an enormous show and I didn’t need a ring — he presented me with a literal diamond rock, not on a hoop,” she explained.
“I used to be so upset that he thought he could propose to me on a technicality, I said no on principle in front of his family. I cried your complete next day, we needed to talk loads.”
But a month later, Michael got it right. He proposed on a sunrise kayaking trip in Florida and after three-and-a-half years of dating the pair got married in February 2018.
The newlyweds decided they wanted to begin a family together and three years later Gretchen learned that she was pregnant.
“Michael couldn’t wait to be a father again,” Gretchen recounted. The 61-year-old was already a father to 2 children but was excited to start raising one other child as a more mature adult.
The couple welcomed baby boy Shannon in October 2021 and couldn’t be happier — despite the confusion they generally encounter.
“People think I’m Shannon’s grandad on a regular basis but I just laugh it off,” Michael said.
Still, he admitted now that the infant has joined a playgroup, he’s vulnerable to picking up bugs.
“The immune system of a 36-year-old is a complete lot higher than the immune system of a 63-year-old.
“I continuously have these colds, it’s exhausting,” he said.
Gretchen, nonetheless, thinks his years help him within the parenting department.
“I feel his age makes him a greater father,” she said. “He can’t be as physically energetic, but he still loves monkeying around with little Shannon. But he’s more like a grandad because he has so far more patience.
“I might tell any woman in my position that life is simply too short to be unhappy. If something feels right in your gut — go for it,” she added.
