A 24-year-old woman has said she fell in love with a man double her age while working as a nanny for his children.
Lauren Goodrich met Aaron Campbell, who is 26 years older than her, when she was employed as a carer for the man's terminally ill daughter, Tori, 17.
Initially, there were no romantic feelings between them, also because Aaron was married and Lauren was engaged.
When Tori passed away in 2014 due to a rare genetic neurological disease, Metochromatic Leukodystrophyin, the pair spent six months apart while Aaron grieved the death of his daughter.
But after Lauren was jilted at the altar, she was reemployed by Aaron as a nanny for his other children, Madelena, 21, Emma, 20, Elijah and Ike, 14.
The pair became close friends and even went on double dates together before realising they had a connection.
Despite Aaron being just four years younger than Lauren's dad, the couple insists their families support them and they are happier than they have ever been.
Lauren, from Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, said: "I love my family and trusted they would be supportive as they have been.
"After 18 months, my father is still acclimating to the idea that I'm dating an older man but Aaron is incredibly charming and treats me so well that they know I'm extremely happy.
"My younger brothers and sisters have accepted Aaron with open arms, and even make age-gap jokes when we are all together.
"They can be quite savage and we all have a good laugh at the situation."
Aaron, from Orem, Utah, USA, added: "Even though I'd known Lauren for three years, I had no idea how my parents, siblings and children would react to the news that I was dating the nanny.
"It was such a cliche and quite stressful trying to keep it a secret."
He said Lauren's mum was able to persuade her husband that they are in a normal, healthy relationship despite their age gap.
But the couple confessed that not everyone has been supportive of their relationship with some branding Lauren a "gold-digger".
The woman said: "Aaron is much more self-conscience about what people think and feel than I am.
"I love him and haters are going to hate, so I don't really care much about false stigmas because I know the truth."
Aaron added: "People jump to the conclusion that Lauren is probably a homewrecker or gold-digger, and I'm somehow being manipulative and taking advantage of Lauren but that's not true.
"It does take thick skin to be in an age-gap relationship."
Lauren and Aaron, who are hoping to get engaged soon, are sharing their story to help break down misconceptions surrounding age gap relationships.
Aaron said: "My children are happy that their dad is with a woman they had known for almost four years and had grown to love.
"That isn't to say that things don't get weird from time to time as Lauren tries to find the balance between being a slightly older peer, dad's girlfriend and possible future stepmother."
Lauren added: "It doesn't take more than a few encounters for most people to shed these assumptions and see that me and Aaron are genuinely best friends living a meagre, modest lifestyle doing our best to advance a normal, healthy relationship despite the age differences."
