Jon Gosselin: I Am a Regular Guy Who Wants to Move Forward

July 15, 2009 — -- "Jon and Kate Plus 8" patriarch Jon Gosselin may be sans wife, but the father of twins and sextuplets is eagerly moving forward with his new life and relationship.

Images of the Pennsylvania dad and his girlfriend, Hailey Glassman, on a yacht on the French Riviera have been published online and in magazines, and Jon Gosselin spoke to People magazine about his relationship with the 22-year-old.

"What began as friendship has grown into something more. I know that my decision to appear publicly with Hailey this weekend will be scrutinized, but I hope that people can see I'm a regular guy who is a going through a very difficult time in life and wants to move forward," he told the magazine.

The outing of the relationship comes less than three weeks after he and his wife, Kate Gosselin, publicly announced they would get a divorce after a decade of marriage.

"I just let her rule the roost and do what she wanted to do and went along with everything and now I finally stood up on my own two feet and I'm proud of myself," Jon Gosselin said on the couple's popular reality television show.

Glassman is described as a wild child who was once arrested for marijuana possession. She is the daughter of the plastic surgeon who performed Kate Gosselin's tummy tuck in 2006.

And at least one expert said Jon Gosselin's parading of his new relationship could be a way for him to send a clear message.

"If someone engaging in these behaviors walked into your office, I would think about revenge, a fairly hostile act," said family therapist Terry Real, who hasn't treated the Gosselins. "I would be wondering if this wasn't some sort of a declaration and the person in the marriage felt emasculated."

Real said by introducing Glassman to the public so soon after his failed marriage, Jon Gosselin could be trying to declare his independence and show that he is strong, not weak.