The story of getting with the person you fell in love with when you were 12 sounds like a cute romantic story you often see in novels and books. Until you realize that this is not a book, and on top of that, the 12-year-old's first love was a 28-year-old man.
Jami Bouwer, who is now 27 and pregnant, is dating 43-year-old Nolte Lourens, her best friend's uncle. The woman from Mossel Bay, South Africa, claimed that it all started from 'love at first sight' when she was just 12 while visiting her friend in 2007.
Their romantic relationship did not begin until they met again back in December 2020.
The two went on a date at a beautiful vineyard, arranged by the very same best friend. They quickly hit it off and are officially dating for seven months now. On a even happier note, the two are expecting their first child together.
Jami, who's preparing for their first baby, shared, "I laid eyes on him for the very first time in 2007, I was only 12 years old, and he was about 27 years old."
"Sounds crazy. Obviously, no moves were made, but that is the first time I met him. I became friends with his niece around that time, and since then, I've always had a crush on her cute uncle," she continued.
"For me, it definitely was love at first sight; since the first day I laid eyes on him, I just knew he was going to be the one."
"I made the first move back in 2017," she admitted. "Just before I had left South Africa to go au pair in America for two years, by telling him that one day I am going to marry him."
Jami was serious about her declaration, "I was 23 at the time, and he thought it was a joke and laughed, and that was that. Little did he know how serious I was, and I just knew that one day it was going to happen. He was also in a relationship at that time."
After that, it was radio silence between the two. Nolte was hesitant with contacting first with her being so much younger than him. But not for long.
"At the beginning of 2020, he went to America for farming; he finally got the guts to send me a message and ask when I will be returning to the US, as he was there."
The two spent a couple of months chatting about WhatsApp when he's traveling abroad. The day he returned to the US, he dropped by her bar and gave her a hug.
"The very next day, we went on a sort of a date arranged by his niece to a wine farm just out of town for a wine tasting and a light meal. We got together and basically just started dating right away, " she finished the prologue to their 7-month relationship. Jami couldn't stop gushing over how they just understand each other so well.
Jami shared that everyone around her knew about her crush for the man, but never thought of it seriously. Some of them were surprised, but that was all.
She added, "My parents were a bit shocked because they only found out on Facebook once we made it public – they accepted it pretty easy though as they have known him for years and loved him as a person."
"Nolte's parents also accepted it quite easy too. Nikita was the most excited. She was rooting for us since the beginning. She also is the one that pushed and helped us to get together."
"Fortunately for us, we have never received any negative comments. We are lucky that way."
Before this relationship, Jami's previous boyfriend, who was 30 years older than her, passed away. Nolte is also divorced after being married for five years in his twenties.
She also shares why the huge age gap is not a problem for them.
"Nolte knows what he wants and is done with the "messing around" stage in his life. He is more committed when it comes to love and starting a family," Jami shared. "We both want the same thing when it comes to starting a family. We are so excited to be having a baby together and to start our life together as a little family of three."
"We love each other unconditionally and appreciate each other in every way possible."
Nolte works as a beekeeper in North Dakota, US, and plans to return to welcome their baby together. He shared, "Jami is young, energetic, enthusiastic, lustful, and naughty. Sure there are women out there that meet those same criteria at my age, but they are very scarce and most likely have children of their own – something I can't see myself getting involved with."
Jami advised people, "Never focus on age, it's literally just a number. If it feels right, then it is right. Focus on yourself – it's your life and you have to live it."
