A nanny who went from the brink of being fired to a fiery relationship has opened up about her controversial marriage – with their children opening up about why they were against the idea in a very candid conversation.
Krystle Romano, 30, met now husband Ben, 50, in 2014, when she was 23 and working as a nanny for his three children.
In a segment for Truly’s Love Don’t Judge, the blended family opened up about what it was like for Krystal to go from hired help to being the young stepmother of her boss’s kids — and why they initially hated it.
Ben said that when his children found out he was dating Krystle, his children initially didn’t know how serious it was and saw it as “just another girl that dad was dating.”
“My dad brought home a lot of women, so I thought it was just another 23-year-old he brought home,” Ben’s son Sal, 19, said.
A nanny who went from the brink of being fired to a fiery relationship has opened up about her controversial marriage – with their child opening up about why they were ultimately against the idea
In the honest conversation, the kids – especially Sal (left) – shared their true feelings about the unusual relationship. On the right of the photo, Krystle responds to his candid assessment
Ben said his father’s serial dating had the most impact on his eldest daughter, Frankie, noting that she was more than seven years younger than Krystle, and she was furious when she found out.
“But we’re doing well now, so it’s okay,” Krystle said.
In the honest conversation, the kids – especially Sal – shared their true feelings about the unusual relationship.
‘I think my dad and Crystal are good together because the age difference is big and attracts a lot of attention. Crystal likes attention,” Sal said cheekily.
He continued: ‘A lot of people say she’s a gold digger, obviously, with my dad’s money – I don’t disagree with that.’
His stepmother is heard saying, “Sal… stop!”
Krystle’s son Kash admitted that he didn’t like Ben when he and his mother first started dating.
“I think Ben and I get along well now, but when I was eight or nine I just didn’t like him and hated him because I just knew he didn’t look like my biological father.” , he said.
“But now I think we have a good relationship.”
Krystle, who was a single mother of one at the time, became a hit with Ben’s children and eventually fell for their father, pictured with children Frankie, 22, Sal, 17, and Julianna, 19, and Krystle’s son Kashton
The father of three initially thought Krystle was a bad babysitter, but changed his mind after Krystle came to work dressed in makeup one day.
The couple still hires nannies to care for their children at home, although Krystle wouldn’t allow Ben to talk to them, saying she “didn’t want to lose him like she got him.”
Despite not liking each other when they first met – with divorcee Ben even thinking she was a ‘terrible nanny’ – the father-of-three changed his mind after Krystle dressed in make-up for work one day came.
“He couldn’t stop looking at me,” Krystle said shyly. “So I guess that was when he fell in love with me.”
For Krystle, seeing Ben play with her then three-and-a-half-year-old son Kashton was what made her fall for him, describing him as “such a good dad.”
The couple have now merged their family, but their children have admitted they had reservations about their new stepparents.
‘Everyone thought I was crazy. This man is 20 years older than you, he has three children, what do you think?’ Krystle admitted.
Even though they receive a lot of backlash on social media, they say the negativity has brought them closer together.
“We really don’t care that we live our lives with our kids and our family, and whether you like us or not, we’re going to keep doing what we do,” Krystle said.