A couple with a 37 year age gap kept their relationship secret for years because of one specific reason. See them answering couples questions together below:
27-year-old Janne Puhakka met Rolf Nordmo, 64, back in 2014 after chatting online for a week.
The pair fell for one another instantly.
Advert
Janne, a former pro ice hockey player, was only 19 at the time and was 'scared of the way he would be perceived in the ultra-masculine sporting world', and was frightened of his teammate's reactions.
Despite meeting each other's families, in public they would pretend they were just friends/relatives.
But now, thankfully, they are out and proud.
However, because Rolf is the same age as Janne’s dad, people often mistake them for father and son.
Some would even think they are 'sugar daddy and baby'.
Rolf said: "When we go out people will often think we are a sugar daddy and baby or father and son.
“We both had to battle with ourselves to get to the point we are now.
“We love each other and that’s all that matters.
"Once people get to know us they understand that it’s not strange and we compliment each other so well."
Janne, now a student, added: "I was frightened, and I didn’t want people to know about my sexuality.
“I had to keep Rolf a secret and it isn’t a nice thing to hide the person you love."
The pair lived hours away from one another and Rolf would fly three times the distance from his home in Oslo, Norway, to Helsinki, Finland, to see him.
"I would pull his leg when we were out and say 'Janne let’s hold hands', he would freak out," Rolf said.
“I knew that I had feelings I had never felt before but was constantly telling myself it was just a summer fling and wouldn’t work because of our age gap.”
When Janne travelled back to Canada, Rolf paid him a visit while on a business trip to the US.
The ice-hockey player was staying with a host family and lied to them, claiming that he was his uncle so he could go and see him in his hotel.
“It felt so weird to be hiding our relationship - I just wanted to say he was my boyfriend,” Rolf added.
He then called Janne after landing to finally admit his feelings: “I’m sorry I think I’m falling in love."
However, Janne had already opened up to Rolf about how he felt.
“I was fighting myself the whole time and was trying to fight the love I had for him but it was impossible," he added.
“I had never felt like this before.
“I thought 'what on earth does this young man want with me, an old pig?'”
Rolf was married to a woman for 17 years and had three children before coming out aged 40, so he understood Janne's hesitation about being openly gay.
He revealed to his kids in 2015 that he was dating a 19-year-old, which was initially met with mixed reactions but now all three have a great relationship with the couple.
A few months later, Janne came out to his family and revealed that his boyfriend was the same age as his dad.
Rolf said: “They took it surprisingly well.
"This is what I admire about the Finns - they seem to take everything in their stride.
“It’s a concept they call Finnish sisu.”
Janne came out publicly in 2019 during an interview and hopes to help other men in the same situation.
The couple have lived in Helsinki for three years and are enjoying their time together.
Topics: Sex and Relationships
Anish Vij