Matty Acton was only 18 when he met Esther and her three-year-old son, Ethan. What began as an unlikely spark on a Toowoomba dance floor turned into a marriage, two more children, and a life that has never once followed the traditional timeline. 

In this episode of The Australian Women's Weekly Love Stories, Matty and Esther join Tiffany Dunk to reflect on the rocky early years of their relationship, the loss of Matty's father and the advice he gave his son about loving a ready-made family, as well as the moment Ethan first called Matty "Dad”. 

They also open up about becoming grandparents so early in life, the surprising parallels between their own whirlwind beginnings and their son’s early marriage, and why they've started sharing their story more widely through their own podcast, Underage Grandparents. 

This is a conversation about love that doesn't follow a script, blended families, and finding something beautiful in circumstances that don't look the way you expected. 

Moments you'll hear: 
Why Taylor Swift's ‘Cardigan’ and Jack Johnson's ‘Better Together’ are the soundtrack to their relationship
Meeting through a mutual friend and their first kiss at the Tatts Hotel in Toowoomba
What it was like dating as an 18-year-old whose girlfriend was already a mum
The outside pressure that fuelled their early breakups, including a six-week split that nearly ended things for good
The advice Matty's dying father gave him about loving Esther and Ethan without fear
Ethan meeting Matty for the first time in a Woolworths car park
Moving to Sydney, getting engaged after seven years, and Matty's blindfolded proposal
The conversation about Ethan calling Matty "Dad"
Choosing to have children of their own, and welcoming Xander and Eden
Becoming grandparents to granddaughter Illyria before Matty turned 40
Why they started their own podcast, Underage Grandparents
Their message to anyone whose life hasn't gone to plan 

You can listen to Matty & Esther’s Underage Grandparents podcast here. 

Watch more of Matty here. 

Catch Matty on Stav, Abby & Matt on B105 Brisbane 6-9am weekdays. 

Thank you for listening ❤️ 

Before you leave... 

🗣️ Get in touch 

What did you think? We are a brand-new podcast and would love to hear from you as we build this together. Join our friendly Love Stories community and visit us at womensweekly.com.au 

Email us your love stories (and any feedback) at awwlovestories@aremedia.com.au 

If you share your love story on social media please tag us, we're @womensweeklymag, and use the hashtag #AWWLoveStories 

Subscribe to The Australian Women's Weekly at www.womensweekly.com.au 👈🏽 

Our special thanks to our partners at Vixin 

Vixin real results, simple skincare that's a little bit fancy: vixin.com.au 

Use the code LOVESTORIES for 30% off your order at Vixin now! 

Sending thanks to our partners at Wounded Heroes. 

You can help Wounded Heroes deliver emergency assistance to current Australian Defence Force members, veterans and their families by donating at: www.woundedheroes.org.au/actsofservice

Credits 

Host: Tiffany Dunk 

Edited by Phoebe Zukowski-Wallace 

Production by Helen Smith 

Our wonderful The Australian Women's Weekly team 

Our Head of Vodcasting is Rachel Fountain 

Learn More: The Australian Women's Weekly website 

Matty Acton was only 18 when he met Esther and her three-year-old son, Ethan. What began as an unlikely spark on a Toowoomba dance floor turned into a marriage, two more children, and a life that has never once followed the traditional timeline.&nbsp;
In this episode of&nbsp;The Australian Women's Weekly Love Stories, Matty and Esther join Tiffany Dunk to reflect on the rocky early years of their relationship, the loss of Matty's father and the advice he gave his son about loving a ready-made family, as well as the moment Ethan first called Matty "Dad&rdquo;.&nbsp;
They also&nbsp;open up&nbsp;about becoming grandparents so early in life, the surprising parallels between their own whirlwind beginnings and their son&rsquo;s early marriage, and why&nbsp;they've&nbsp;started sharing their story more widely through their own podcast,&nbsp;Underage Grandparents.&nbsp;
This is a conversation about love that&nbsp;doesn't&nbsp;follow a script, blended families, and finding something beautiful in circumstances that&nbsp;don't&nbsp;look the way you expected.&nbsp;
Moments&nbsp;you'll&nbsp;hear:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Why Taylor Swift's &lsquo;Cardigan&rsquo; and Jack Johnson's &lsquo;Better Together&rsquo; are the soundtrack to their relationship</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Meeting through a mutual friend and their first kiss at the Tatts Hotel in Toowoomba</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">What it was like dating as an 18-year-old whose girlfriend was already a mum</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">The outside pressure that fuelled their early breakups, including a six-week split that nearly ended things for good</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">The advice Matty's dying father gave him about loving Esther and Ethan without fear</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Ethan meeting Matty for the first time in a Woolworths car park</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Moving to Sydney, getting engaged after seven years, and Matty's blindfolded proposal</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">The conversation about Ethan calling Matty "Dad"</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Choosing to have children of their own, and welcoming Xander and Eden</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Becoming grandparents to granddaughter Illyria before Matty turned 40</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Why they started their own podcast,&nbsp;Underage Grandparents</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Their message to anyone whose life hasn't gone to plan&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
You can listen to Matty &amp; Esther&rsquo;s&nbsp;Underage Grandparents&nbsp;podcast&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/underaged-grandparents-with-matty-esther-acton/id1812579088">here</a>.&nbsp;
Watch more of Matty&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/discover/matty-acton">here.</a>&nbsp;
Catch Matty on&nbsp;Stav, Abby &amp; Matt&nbsp;on <a href="https://hit.listnr.com/brisbane/">B105 Brisbane</a> 6-9am weekdays.&nbsp;
Thank you for listening ❤️&nbsp;
Before you leave...&nbsp;
🗣️ Get in touch&nbsp;
What did you think? We are a brand-new podcast and would love to hear from you as we build this together. Join our friendly Love Stories community and visit us at womensweekly.com.au&nbsp;
Email us your love stories (and any feedback) at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:awwlovestories@aremedia.com.au">awwlovestories@aremedia.com.au</a>&nbsp;
If you share your love story on social media please tag us,&nbsp;we're&nbsp;@womensweeklymag, and use the hashtag #AWWLoveStories&nbsp;
Subscribe to&nbsp;The Australian Women's Weekly&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.womensweekly.com.au/">www.womensweekly.com.au</a>&nbsp;👈🏽&nbsp;
Our special thanks to our partners at&nbsp;Vixin&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.vixin.com.au/">Vixin</a>&nbsp;real results, simple skincare&nbsp;that's&nbsp;a little bit fancy:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vixin.com.au/">vixin.com.au</a>&nbsp;
Use the code LOVESTORIES for 30% off your order at&nbsp;Vixin&nbsp;now!&nbsp;
Sending thanks to our partners at Wounded Heroes.&nbsp;
You can help Wounded Heroes deliver emergency assistance to current Australian Defence Force members, veterans and their families by donating at: <a href="https://www.woundedheroes.org.au/actsofservice">www.woundedheroes.org.au/actsofservice</a>
Credits&nbsp;
Host: Tiffany Dunk&nbsp;
Edited by Phoebe Zukowski-Wallace&nbsp;
Production by&nbsp;Helen Smith&nbsp;
Our wonderful&nbsp;The Australian Women's Weekly&nbsp;team&nbsp;
Our Head of Vodcasting is Rachel Fountain&nbsp;
Learn More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.womensweekly.com.au">The Australian Women's Weekly&nbsp;website&nbsp;</a>

What’s your love language? The Australian Women's Weekly Love Stories is for the chronically curious about the strongest of our emotions. Hosted by Tiffany Dunk, this podcast swaps cliché romcom endings for real, messy, magnetic connections told by unforgettable voices from The Australian Women’s Weekly universe. From lifelong mateship to unexpected soulmates to finding love both within and beyond yourself, Love Stories is intimate, surprising and quietly empowering.

What&rsquo;s your love language? The Australian Women's Weekly Love Stories is for the chronically curious about the strongest of our emotions. Hosted by Tiffany Dunk, this podcast swaps clich&eacute; romcom endings for real, messy, magnetic connections told by unforgettable voices from The Australian Women&rsquo;s Weekly universe. From lifelong mateship to unexpected soulmates to finding love both within and beyond yourself, Love Stories is intimate, surprising and quietly empowering.

Love Stories

Matty and Esther Acton met when he was 18 and she was a single mum at 22. Now, 21 years on, they're grandparents in their 30s and early 40s. They join Tiffany Dunk to talk step-parenting, surviving their rocky early breakups, and the advice Matty's dying father gave him about loving a ready-made family. 