'I'm a gran and my Turkish toyboy is 19 - the same age as my daughter'

Rachel McIntyre never expected to become a grandmother in her thirties, let alone to be dating a man the same age as her eldest daughter, Beth

While I'm sat on my sofa in the chilly October evening, I can't help but long for the warm embrace of my boyfriend Seskan back in Turkey. We met during my holiday in Marmaris in June and ever since, I've been yearning to be back in his arms, sharing laughter and kisses under the sun. Our relationship is far from conventional – at 19, he's the same age as my eldest daughter. And to add to the peculiarity, despite being only 35, I'm already a grandmother. My daughter Beth gave birth to my granddaughter Alaia last year. Despite this, my relationship with Seskan quickly became serious.

In September, I took my younger daughter Erika, 11, out of school and we went back to see him for a week. It's a controversial situation, but it's made me happier than I could have ever imagined. I know there will be criticism for taking Erika out of school to visit my young lover, but I don't care. Life is more than just textbooks and learning maths and English, reports OK!. Erika is having wonderful experiences, exploring a different culture and enjoying the freedom that a family-friendly place like Marmaris can offer. Plus, we're all soaking up the much-needed sun – something that's a rare sight in Edinburgh where we live!

We're planning another trip in December, this time to Thailand with Seskan. I'm sure people will say I'm making a fool of myself by falling in love with Seskan, but I believe our love will stand the test of time. And everyone always mistakes Beth and me for twins – so at least I look his age, rather than the granny that I am.

I became a young mum myself, falling pregnant unexpectedly with Beth in 2005 when I was just 15 and giving birth at 16. My boyfriend of six months gave me an ultimatum to choose between him and my baby as soon as he found out about the pregnancy.

Despite the shock and fear, the decision was easy - I wanted her. There were lonely moments as I had to leave my family home, and dealing with her terrible twos was draining.

But I never regretted my choice for a moment and we've always been incredibly close. Then history repeated itself when Beth fell pregnant at 17 and gave birth at 18 – making me a grandmother at the tender age of 34.

I was taken aback when she told me and concerned because being a teen mum isn't easy and her boyfriend didn't want to be involved either. But I was also genuinely excited for her – and I adore being a granny.

However, just because I am one, it doesn't mean I'll spend the rest of my life in an apron, baking cakes or knitting. Instead, I work as a model, which allows us to afford lovely holidays.

We booked a two-month holiday in June. I didn't go there looking for love, but then I met Seskan.

He's a waiter at the hotel where we stayed and I noticed him right away – he's incredibly handsome. We started talking one evening after his shift and I realised how attracted I was to him – and the feeling was mutual.

But after he revealed that he was 19, I backed off. He was the same age as my daughter.

Despite my initial resistance, his persistent flirting won me over. We spent all of his free time together and gradually fell in love.

People often doubt these types of romances. I've been burnt before, falling for a Turkish waiter in September 2023 who was clearly after a visa.

But Seskan is different – he's kind, clever, gentle, funny, and a wonderful lover. He never asked me for money and usually pays when we go out.

Our time together flew by with fun activities like long bike rides and hikes. When I returned home in August, I missed him terribly but we kept in touch via FaceTime.

Despite it being term time, I knew I was going back in September. In Scotland, we don't get fined when our children miss school.

The headmistress was fine with it. On my return, I was nervous, worrying things might have changed between me and Seskan, despite keeping in close contact.

However, we instantly reconnected and our relationship is stronger than ever. Both my daughters adore him, although initially Beth was sceptical due to his age being similar to hers, but she soon warmed up to him.

We've discussed our future together and I made it clear early on that I don't want any more children. Beth and my granddaughter live with me and while I enjoy helping with feeds and nappy changes, it's a stark reminder of how tiring motherhood can be.

The beauty of being a grandmother is that I can hand the baby back when needed. Luckily, he respects my decision and doesn't want children either.

I hope Erika has been deterred from becoming a teenage mum after witnessing the amount of work involved in raising a baby – unlike my sister who didn't follow my path. However, I absolutely love being a grandmother to one – she's brought so much happiness and excitement into our lives.

It's amusing to see people's reactions when they find out – especially since I'm still frequently asked for ID when buying a drink!