Watch the video to find out more about their relationship.
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A woman whose husband is 55 years older than she says that they have never been happier despite her often being mistaken for his granddaughter or nurse. They are so happy in fact that they are even thinking of having kids.
Twenty-four-year-old Alexis Tadlock never planned on falling in love with Charles Tadlock, 79, but she says it’s the best thing that ever happened.
Alexis, who is a funeral director, first met Charles and his wife Kathy in 2015 at a church in Sheridan, Arkansas. However, Kathy passed away in September 2017 at the age of 77 due to lung disease. Seeing how downcast Charles had become, the young woman comforted him and they quickly became good friends.
A year later, she noticed that she had developed feelings for Charles, a retired school principal, despite the immense age gap. But when she learned that Charles felt the same way, she couldn’t contain her joy.
Charles popped the question in October 2018 and the pair got married barely two months later despite all the backlash they received.
Alexis said: “We first met back at church when he used to attend with his wife, Kathy. She and I were good friends, and I was very sad when she passed away. I never had much to do with Charles, but one day I saw him sitting alone at church and he was crying.
“I went to comfort him, and we talked for ages. We became good friends after that, and we would go do things together and just hang out. Eventually, I think we became dependent on each other and my feelings really started to grow the more time we spent together.
“But I never thought anything could happen between us. I tried to set him up with an older lady, but he flat out refused to even go on a date. Then he asked whether I wanted to go meet a younger guy. But I just couldn’t imagine ever leaving him and finding a younger man.
“One day, he told me how much he missed me. I asked him if he ever felt that way towards anyone else, and he said, ‘only my wife.’ We admitted our feelings towards each other, and our relationship just blossomed from there. I was over the moon when he popped the question and we got married just two months later.
“He is the best husband I ever could have asked for and we love each other deeply. We’re very happy.”
Alexis’ family and friends had ‘mixed reactions’ when they learned that she was engaged and some were ‘totally against it.’
While the 55-year age gap hasn’t stopped the couple from public displays of affection, they are aware of the stares that they attract from strangers.
Alexis continued: “When I told people about Charles and I getting married, a lot of my friends said if he made me happy then I should go for it. Most were very supportive, but I did have some people who did not agree with it at all. They became very hateful towards me.
“Usually people think I’m his granddaughter. Or they’ll think I’m his nurse or carer. I am generally the one that tells people that we’re married, and often they don’t really know what to say. They looked very shocked.
“We don’t make a big deal about it. A lot of people in age gap relationships feel that they can’t hold hands or stay close to each other because of what others will think. But we don’t act any differently in public. I’ll kiss his cheek and we’ll hold hands.
“I’ll lay my head on him and just act like no one is there. I really don’t care what others think.”
Alexis is aware that at his age, Charles will likely pass away first. But that’s what motivates her to ‘keep a part of him’ with her forever by having a baby with him. Such a desire has created its own backlash but it hasn’t deterred them from trying.
She explained: “A lot of people get angry because they assume that Charles cannot give me children due to his age. But that is not true at all. We’ve gone for tests, and it’s actually me that has some fertility issues that we’re working on.
“We want to have a baby. I’ve been told I’m selfish if I have a child with him because they might grow up without a dad. But when he dies, I’ll have nothing of him. I need something from him to carry with me throughout the rest of my life.
“There is no other place I’d rather be right now and there is no one in this world I’d rather be married to. Charles treats me better than any guys I’ve dated in their 20’s. He has old-fashioned values and is a true gentleman.
“He is the best partner and is perfect for me. There is not one thing about him that I would change. We love each other deeply and make each other happy every day. That’s all the matters.”
Charles, whose two grown-up children are aged 54 and 48, added: “There are some old people that have young souls, and some young people that have old souls. I feel much younger on the inside. The age difference doesn’t affect our marriage.
“No matter how old you are, everyone still needs love.”