I married my favorite schoolteacher despite 25-year age gap – people ask if she’s my grandma even after they see us kissing

A ‘pet’ married his favorite teacher after the couple fell in love, despite a 25-year age gap.

Monica Foster, 32, first met her current wife, Michelle, 57, in 2004 when she was his science teacher in Big Rapids, Michigan.

Seventeen years later, Monica, a self-confessed “teacher’s pet,” searched Facebook to see how her favorite former teacher was doing.

Michelle had been in a relationship with a woman in the past, and Monica had also just publicly come out as a lesbian.

The two met and became close friends before developing a romantic relationship – although they were mistaken for mother and daughter “multiple times a day”.

Ignoring daily abuse from online trolls, the couple got engaged in fall 2022.

They married earlier this year and said they were happier than ever after a “perfect day” with a private seaside wedding.

Michelle, a now retired teacher, said: “When Monica first contacted me, I was always keen to support my former students, so I was very happy to reconnect.

“As we got closer, I worried about the age gap and how we first met, but I had to let it all go.

“Our wedding took place on the beach on a beautiful day – and it was just perfect.

“It’s amazing how quickly the year has gone by since we got engaged – it’s quite mind-boggling.

“It’s incredible and very surreal. After all, we know we have this.”

Monica, a school bus driver, said: “Our wedding day was so important to me – I don’t care what people think because they don’t live my life, I do.

Monica and Michelle were married in an intimate ceremony at Lake Michigan with close friends and family (the couple are pictured above on their wedding day)

The newlyweds live with two children Zeke (top center) and Charlie (bottom center), Monica’s children from a previous marriage.

Monica decided to look up her favorite school teacher on Facebook to see how she was doing

“It was so special.”

Michelle had been Monica’s favorite teacher in seventh grade – when Monica, then 13, was “the good student.”

If their relationship then remained professional, Michelle left such a mark that Monica decided to find her on Facebook 17 years later, in April 2020.

Monica had just gone through a difficult situation and remembered Michelle’s support class being a “safe place” for her when she was younger and reached out to her.

They started talking online before meeting again for the first time in 17 years in August 2021.

Over lunch they chatted about their lives, and over time they became close friends.

Michelle was shocked when Monica reached out, but after going to lunch, the couple quickly bonded.

The couple ended their previous relationships to be together in May 2022, with Michelle and her wife filing for divorce.

Monica and Michelle bonded over their love of music, camping, the outdoors, and hunting for locally brewed beer.

Monica said: “We were both in very dark places at that time, and finding someone you can relate to and be vulnerable with felt safe.”

They ended their previous relationships to be together in May 2022, with Michelle and her wife filing for divorce.

Since then, the couple has lived together.

Monica said that despite the 25-year age gap, they have a lot in common, having bonded over music, camping, outdoor activities and hunting for locally brewed beer.

While Monica “didn’t really have any concerns” about the age gap, Michelle initially struggled to deal with it because of people’s assumptions.

The couple got engaged in fall 2022, after arranging separate proposals for each other so that they both had the opportunity to propose

While Monica “didn’t really have any concerns” about the age gap, Michelle initially struggled to deal with it because of people’s assumptions.

The couple now live with Monica’s children from her previous marriage, Zeke (right), 7, and Charlie (left), 5.

She said: “People ask, ‘Is that your mother?’ or even “Is this your grandmother?” all the time.

“We’ve learned to laugh or ignore it, but if you see me kissing her, why would you ask if she’s my mother? »

“Another question I get asked is if I loved him when I was 13 – obviously not.

“At the time we had no relationship, other than she was a good teacher.”

The couple got engaged in fall 2022, after arranging separate proposals for each other so they would both have the chance to propose.

Their big day arrived and the couple had a small beach wedding on June 17 in Suttons Bay on the shores of Lake Michigan, and they said their vows in a small nearby cottage with only a handful of their loved ones.

After a hectic year, the two are ready to settle down and spend time together at home.

Afterward, they sang Lizzo’s “Good As Hell” on the waterfront before “crashing a beer in the forest.”

Two nights earlier, they had a separate “mini-wedding” with Monica’s children Zeke, seven, and Charlie, five, so they too could enjoy the experience.

Monica said: “They’re still talking about it – Charlie asking to wear her ‘wedding dress’.

“Zeke wore a rainbow bow tie.”

After enjoying a relaxing honeymoon in Traverse City, the newlyweds are back home and ready to relax as wife and wife.

Michelle said: “This year has been fast – we traveled so much last year.

“We’re just ready to go home together – I’m ready to be bored.”

Monica added: “It’s time to settle down.”