I'm a 48-year-old high school teacher dating a man 23 YEARS younger than me - I don't care that people mistake him for my student
- Rachel, 48, is dating Alex, 25, and has revealed what trolls say about their love
- The high school teacher revealed people often mistake Alex for her student
- She explained that her oldest son, 22, wasn't on board with the romance at first
A 48-year-old high school teacher who is dating a man 23 years her junior admits that her boyfriend is regularly mistaken for one of her students - but claims she doesn't care if strangers judge her age-gap romance.
Rachel, an educator in Austin, Texas, decided to join a dating app after getting divorced in 2020.
While swiping through her matches, she saw a man named Alex, now 25, and soon enough, the pair became a couple.
Now, Rachel and Alex have fired back at trolls who have branded the mom-of-two 'disgusting' for dating a man 23 years her junior and lifted the lid on how she got her sons on board with her relationship.
![A 48-year-old high school teacher has revealed her 25-year-old boyfriend is constantly mistaken as one of her students](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/15/18/80043273-12965785-A_48_year_old_high_school_teacher_has_revealed_her_25_year_old_b-m-62_1705344085136.jpg)
A 48-year-old high school teacher has revealed her 25-year-old boyfriend is constantly mistaken as one of her students
![Rachel, an educator in Austin, Texas , decided to join a dating app after getting divorced in 2020](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/15/21/80043277-12965785-Rachel_an_educator_in_Austin_Texas_decided_to_join_a_dating_app_-a-9_1705352753362.jpg)
Rachel, an educator in Austin, Texas , decided to join a dating app after getting divorced in 2020
![While swiping through her matches, she saw a man named Alex, now 25, and soon enough, the pair became a couple](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/15/21/80043267-12965785-While_swiping_through_her_matches_she_saw_a_man_named_Alex_now_2-a-10_1705352753527.jpg)
While swiping through her matches, she saw a man named Alex, now 25, and soon enough, the pair became a couple
Speaking on the YouTube channel Love Don't Judge, Rachel and her younger lover spoke about how their relationship blossomed and how they overcame the judgments of others - including Rachel's kids.
The mom explained: 'I was newly divorced and a friend of mine convinced me to get on a dating app where I met Alex. I was very hesitant because he looked young.'
Alex chimed in: 'I didn't think anything of it. I was actually excited about the opportunity to be with a woman who was much older than me.
'There really is no difference in this relationship than a "normal" one other than the fact she happens to be older than me.
'There's plenty of men who date a much younger woman and nobody bats an eye to it - but god forbid an older woman be with a younger man.'
Soon into their love affair, Alex and Rachel began posting clips on TikTok about their age-gap relationship.
And her sons, aged 19 and 22, discovered their mom was engulfed in a romance with a younger man when the couple's videos garnered viral success and began to circulate the web.
Her oldest son, Ben, said: 'Originally, I was really upset. I found out through a friend who texted me and I didn't know what was going on.
![Speaking on the YouTube channel Love Don't Judge, Rachel and her younger lover spoke about how their relationship blossomed and how they overcame the judgments of others](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/15/21/80043261-12965785-Speaking_on_the_YouTube_channel_Love_Don_t_Judge_Rachel_and_her_-a-12_1705352753529.jpg)
Speaking on the YouTube channel Love Don't Judge, Rachel and her younger lover spoke about how their relationship blossomed and how they overcame the judgments of others
![Her oldest son, Ben, said: 'Originally, I was really upset. I found out through a friend who texted me and I didn't know what was going on'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/15/21/80043249-12965785-Her_oldest_son_Ben_said_Originally_I_was_really_upset_I_found_ou-a-11_1705352753529.jpg)
Her oldest son, Ben, said: 'Originally, I was really upset. I found out through a friend who texted me and I didn't know what was going on'
![Despite the frequent criticism, Alex and Rachel insisted that they were more in love than ever and didn't pay any attention to the trolls who judged them](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/15/21/80043263-12965785-Despite_the_frequent_criticism_Alex_and_Rachel_insisted_that_the-a-13_1705352753536.jpg)
Despite the frequent criticism, Alex and Rachel insisted that they were more in love than ever and didn't pay any attention to the trolls who judged them
'I saw the TikTok and it was something about dating a cougar. I was like, "Mom, you're putting this out in public, you're a teacher, every kid has TikTok, everyone is going to see this."'
Ben added that he also thought their relationship was a problem because his mom's boss, the school principal, had to confirm Alex wasn't a student.
However, Ben noted that he was now supportive of his mom's relationship while adding that he was still 'protective' of his mother and wanted what was best for her.
The 22-year-old said: 'We've come a long way from where we originally started. Things might still be a little bit weird but I like you [Alex] and it has gotten a lot better than it initially was at first.'
Rachel revealed that her younger son was more on board with her romance and even noted that Alex 'reminded' her of the 19-year-old.
She added that strangers often confused the pair for 'mother and son', but they just brushed it off.
Rachel often laughs off the comments about being her boyfriend's 'sugar mama' - adding that her occupation doesn't pay much.
Despite the frequent criticism, Alex and Rachel say that they are more in love than ever and don't pay any attention to the trolls who judge them.